President Moon condemns Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka

Blood stains the wall and a Jesus Christ statue at St. Sebastian's Church, after terrorist attacks in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 21. AP

St. Sebastian's Church, after bomb blasts ripped through churches and hotels in Negambo, Sri Lanka, April 22. Reuters

Shoes and belongings of victims at St Sebastian's Church. AFP

By Jung Min-ho

President Moon Jae-in.

President Moon Jae-in has condemned the horrific terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, which killed more than 290 people and injured hundreds more on Easter Sunday.

“I can't believe the tragedy that occurred on Easter Sunday,” Moon wrote on Facebook Monday (KST). “They delivered the terror attacks against innocent people, including those who were attending mass at cathedrals.”

“It was a hostile act that threatens peace, an act that all of us should work together to stop. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the victims, their families and the people in Sri Lanka. We will help Sri Lanka President (Maithripala) Sirisena handle the situation.”

At least 290 people were killed and 500 injured in a series of bombings at churches and hotels ― most of them in or around the country's capital Colombo. It was the deadliest violence in the South Asian island country since the end of the civil war in 2009.

Police said they arrested 24 people over the coordinated bombings, but it is still unclear who carried out the attacks and why.

Sri Lanka's Defense Minister Ruwan Wijewardene said religious extremists may be responsible for what he described as an act of terrorism.

The first six explosions appeared timed to cause maximum casualties among those attending Easter services. According to the country's intelligence officials, an extremist Islamist group called the National Thowheeth Jama'ath is one of the suspected groups behind the attacks.

Most of those killed were Sri Lankans. But the three bombed hotels and one of the churches, St. Anthony's Shrine, were frequented by foreign tourists. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said at least 27 citizens from other countries, including the United States, China and Japan, were among the victims.

Ministry issues warning

Meanwhile, Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to Koreans traveling in or living in Sri Lanka.

“Stay inside if possible. If you have to go out, be mindful of your safety,” the ministry said in a statement.

Citing media reports that there could be unexploded bombs, it advised people not to go near the bombed buildings.