Sri Lanka says Easter bombing spree that killed 321 people was ‘retaliation’ for the mosque shootings in New Zealand

Sri Lanka’s defence minister said a series of terror attacks on Easter Sunday were retaliation for the massacre of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Ruwan Wijewardene cited Sri Lankan investigators, who believe the two events are directly linked.
He told the country’s parliament on Tuesday: "The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka (on Sunday) was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch."
321 people have been declared dead so far as a result of eight explosions which hit churches and hotels across Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s defense minister has claimed that the Easter Sunday attacks which killed 321 people were "retaliation" for the mass shooting of 50 Muslims at two mosques in New Zealand.

Sri Lanka’s minister of defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, told the country’s parliament on Tuesday: "The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka on Sunday was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch," Agence France-Presse reported.

Wijewardene confirmed the death toll from the eight explosions, which hit three churches and three hotels across Sri Lanka on Sunday, was now at 321, and included 38 foreigners.

He added 375 people remain in hospital with injuries.

Sri Lanka has blamed the militant Muslim group "National Thowfeek Jamaath" for the attacks. So far no one has claimed responsibility.

Three churches were targeted in total. St. Sebastian in Negombo, St. Anthony in Kotahena, Colombo, and The Zion Church, in Batticaloa.

Three five-star hotels were also targeted. They were The Shangri-La, The Cinnamon Grand, and The Kingsbury.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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