The Attacks in Sri Lanka and the New Strategy of Islamic State
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Giovanni Sale, SJ

 Giovanni Sale, SJ / Issue 1908 / 14 August 2019

On Easter morning, April 21, 2019, six almost simultaneous explosions in three major Sri Lankan cities – Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa – killed 253 people (including 30 foreigners) and injured almost 500. The eight suicide bombers hit three Christian churches where Easter celebrations were taking place,[1] and three luxury hotels (the Shangri-La Hotel, the Kingsbury Hotel and the Cinnamon Grand Hotel) in Colombo, which is the economic capital of the country.

The purpose of the operations was to attack the Christian community of Sri Lanka as well as visiting Western tourists, who are considered enemies of Islam and therefore legitimate targets at any moment, according to the jihadi political-religious ideology.[2]

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