The international community has condemned the bloody attacks that took place on Sunday morning in Sri Lanka, a majority-Buddhist island country in South Asia.
The echoes of the recent tragedy in Sri Lanka that has made headlines around the world are far from dying out. According to constantly rising official figures, hundreds of people have been killed and wounded. The authorities have declared a state of emergency nationwide after several explosions took place simultaneously on Sunday morning at several Christian churches during the Catholic Easter service and at a number of luxury hotels packed with tourists. Most attacks took place in the capital Colombo.
In Washington, the State Department issued a new travel warning about Sri Lanka, saying "terrorist groups" continue to plan possible attacks in this majority Buddhist South-Asian country, where Catholics number 1.1 million in a population of 21 million. The American diplomacy indicated as possible targets tourist places, transport terminals, shopping malls, hotels, religious sites, airports and other public places. Amid uncertainties and a dramatic situation on the ground, political and religious leaders from around the world have condemned the attacks. "These attacks demonstrate the brutal nature of terrorists whose sole aim is to threaten peace and security", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. A number of American citizens are among the victims, as well as British, according to the British Foreign Secretary, who described the attacks as horrifying.
Russia has sent a message of condolence and said it was ready to give all necessary support to Sri Lanka. The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attacks were "assaults on all humanity", while Israel's president Reuben Rivlin said an attack against one religion is an attack against all religions. Pope Francis, who held the Easter service at the Vatican, expressed his sadness and sorrow following the attacks, while the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has condemned the violence saying efforts must be made to protect religious sites.
In Romania, president Klaus Iohannis said religious freedom must be protected and prime minister Viorica Dancila said her thoughts were with the people of Sri Lanka. Immediately after the attacks took place, the foreign ministry in Bucharest established a crisis cell, given that a group of high school children from Romania are in Sri Lanka until Friday on an exchange project.
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