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45 children killed in Sri Lankan blasts: UNICEF

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 24 Apr 2019

45 children killed in Sri Lankan blasts: UNICEF

New York: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)  said 45 children were killed in the eight blasts that rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

"News of how these attacks have affected children and adolescents is still coming in, but we now know that 45 children – both Sri Lankan and other nationalities – have been killed, with scores more injured and fighting for their lives in intensive care units across the country," UNICEF said in a statement.

Eight blasts on Easter Sunday rocked Sri Lanka and left 321 people killed.

The incident has been condemned across the globe.

The Islamic State on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the blasts.

So far, 40 people have been arrested in connection in the incidents.

As per Sri Lankan government's website: "The death toll from multiple bomb explosions that targeted churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday rose to 321 with some of the injured at hospitals succumbing to their injuries overnight.Around 500 people were wounded in the blasts, and some of them are still receiving treatments at hospitals."

Police media spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara told the news portal that the police have arrested 40 suspects in connection with the bomb attacks.

All of the individuals arrested are Sri Lankans.

"Six Bombs exploded at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana, and Zion Church in Batticaloa while hotels Kingsbury, Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grands came under attack. A Seventh bomb exploded near the National Zoo in Dehiwala," read a statement issued by the Sri Lankan government website.