"Terrorists" kill 200+ in Sri Lanka

[RoofGardener 9,223]

An terrorist group has attacked christian churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing over 200 people. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-asia-48002165

Everyone knows who has done this, but no media outlet is letting on, lest it cause public unrest and attacks on co-religionists.

People have been arrested for it, and two named. But - at the request of the Sri Lankan government, no media outlet is printing their names, for fear of "community unrest". 

I don't know which is more sickening; the attacks, or the media and government response. 

Edited April 21 by RoofGardener

[hatecraft 377]

Probably MAGA hat wearing white nationalists.  

[Impedancer 2,088]

Sickening :-(

[XenoFish 73,367]

There will be some level of peace in this world when there is no religion to fight over.

[Big Jim 3,060]

2 hours ago, RoofGardener said:

People have been arrested for it, and two named.

I guess that means they've ruled out an electrical short.

[Aaron2016 339]

Sadly nothing new.

 

Rewind 146 years.

 

Ohio Newspaper - Easter 1873

1873 - Mahommedans = 'A follower of the religion of Islam'

 

 

[Amita 160]

Maybe a local Islamic group, probably with outside assistance considering the organization needed:

https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/blasts-sri-lanka-hotels-and-churches-kill-156-doc-1ft48d4

[susieice 18,763]

It seems there were warnings of an impending attack over a week ago. Thirteen people have been held although it's believed the bombing were carried out by suicide bombers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/21/world/asia/sri-lanka-bombings-what-we-know.html

[susieice 18,763]

The news tonight is now reporting 9 sites and a bomb was found near an airport that did not detonate.

[odas 1,837]

Again a sensles attack by religious/nationalist idiots. That is just sick. So far noone claimed responsability which is odd. 

I feel so sorry for the victims. God bless their souls.

[odas 1,837]

1 hour ago, Amita said:

Maybe a local Islamic group, probably with outside assistance considering the organization needed:

https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/blasts-sri-lanka-hotels-and-churches-kill-156-doc-1ft48d4

Islamists, Tamil Hindus or even Budhists. They all have a grudge. One suspect so far seems to have a muslim name.

[Big Jim 3,060]

2 hours ago, Amita said:

Maybe a local Islamic group, probably with outside assistance considering the organization needed:

I wonder how much assistance is provided by their fellow Muslims behind the closed doors of the local mosque?  They already have a worldwide network of meeting places.  Tacticians and munitions experts could travel to any of them without drawing attention.

[susieice 18,763]

1 hour ago, odas said:

Islamists, Tamil Hindus or even Budhists. They all have a grudge. One suspect so far seems to have a muslim name.

Many Arab nations have also condemned the attacks.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/world-leaders-condemn-easter-sunday-blasts-sri-lanka-190421074138039.html

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1485656/world

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/muslim-groups-in-sri-lanka-condemn-attacks/

[susieice 18,763]

Sri Lanka still has social media outlets blocked to prevent the spread of false information.

https://www.apnews.com/fabb6b93861a46d1b7cef4983450ffb3

[susieice 18,763]

It's Monday morning in Sri Lanka and it's being reported that the death toll has now hit 290 with 500 wounded. aljazeera keeps updating their info.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/sri-lanka-bombings-latest-updates-190421092621543.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sri-lanka-attacks-death-toll-rises-290-500-030954803--finance.html

Social media is still blacked out although it seems Twitter may still be working.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/sri-lanka-blocks-social-media-after-easter-sunday-bombings-n996886

Edited April 22 by susieice

[Big Jim 3,060]

2 hours ago, susieice said:

Sri Lanka still has social media outlets blocked to prevent the spread of false information.

https://www.apnews.com/fabb6b93861a46d1b7cef4983450ffb3

That simultaneously blocks the spread of true information.  

[susieice 18,763]

3 minutes ago, Big Jim said:

That simultaneously blocks the spread of true information.  

That's what NBC said. Blocking social media won't stop people from speculating and spreading false information. News outlets are getting what Sri Lanka officials are releasing. That's not a lot right now. 

[Big Jim 3,060]

Just now, susieice said:

That's what NBC said. Blocking social media won't stop people from speculating and spreading false information. News outlets are getting what Sri Lanka officials are releasing. That's not a lot right now. 

I suppose Sri Lankan officials are as trustworthy as our own.  Unless you have a preferred version of events there is no reason to block eye witness accounts.  They're mistaken if they think that speculating and false information always go hand in hand.  Many times speculating is how the right answer is found.

[susieice 18,763]

2 minutes ago, Big Jim said:

I suppose Sri Lankan officials are as trustworthy as our own.  Unless you have a preferred version of events there is no reason to block eye witness accounts.  They're mistaken if they think that speculating and false information always go hand in hand.  Many times speculating is how the right answer is found.

They said the block will remain until their investigation is completed. I don't know how much media knows that they are withholding because Sri Lanka has asked them not to make it public yet. I know one are the names of the people detained. Can't find anything on that and I've read a lot of reports today. Only that 10 were turned over to the equivalent of our FBI. They said no one has claimed responsibility but if they traced a safe house (3 policemen died there because the suspects set off a bomb as the police approached) they must have a good idea of who it was. I guess they aren't ready to release that yet.

[Kismit 10,402]

My guess is the Sri Lankan government is trying to avoid a civil war crisis. It is so very important to contain the violence in the early days, to let it run amok unabated could put the country into total chaos.

[susieice 18,763]

1 minute ago, Kismit said:

My guess is the Sri Lankan government is trying to avoid a civil war crisis. It is so very important to contain the violence in the early days, to let it run amok unabated could put the country into total chaos.

Yes. I remember reading where they wanted to let tensions ease.

[Kismit 10,402]

1 minute ago, susieice said:

Yes. I remember reading where they wanted to let tensions ease.

It is pretty important after most tense moments, we all practice containment at times. Much like siblings fighting over a toy if Stop does not mean STOP! You end up with worse than what you started with 

[susieice 18,763]

There have actually been Buddist attacks on Muslims in Sri Lanka in the past year.

http://theconversation.com/violent-buddhist-extremists-are-targeting-muslims-in-sri-lanka-92951

[acidhead 6,425]

Maybe it's simply a one off

Operation like that.. coordinated 

 

[Big Jim 3,060]

36 minutes ago, susieice said:

There have actually been Buddist attacks on Muslims in Sri Lanka in the past year.

Religious violence apparently has quite a history on the island.  The normally pacifist Buddhists resent the other 3 religions represented, namely Hindus, Muslims and Christians.  Buddhism is the official religion and much of the media is controlled by the government.  This whole thing could be a lot messier than it appears.  Here in America we're quick to assume Muslims are involved when we hear of religious violence but I just learned that might not always be the case.  Guess I'll wait for more reports.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/opinion/sri-lankas-violent-buddhists.html