On Easter Sunday, Sri Lanka was rocked by a coordinated terrorist attack which involved detonated bombs at three churches and three hotels in the island nation.
290 people lost their lives in the attack and authorities are starting top piece together exactly what happened leading up to the tragedy.
Reportedly, at the Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo, one of the bombers got in line for the Easter breakfast buffet and waited patiently to be served before detonating the IEDs strapped to his back.
#Live | The man who had registered at the #hotel the night before as Mohamed Azzam Mohamed, was just about to be se… https://t.co/rMrkxwqKfP— The Hindu (@The Hindu) 1555852504.0
" The suicide bomber waited patiently in a queue for the Easter Sunday breakfast buffet at Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Gra… https://t.co/nJPVshwtKb— Jack Mendel (@Jack Mendel) 1555857480.0
What could have been going through the murderer's deranged mind?
The suicide bomber checked in as a guest at #SriLanka's Grand Cinnamon hotel, cued up with a plate for the Sunday E… https://t.co/CfpDuvpOxb— Rita Banerji ✍ ⚖ (@Rita Banerji ✍ ⚖) 1555856659.0
@Mendelpol 💔 We pray this time for Sri Lankan 🙏 I will never understand what goes through these bombers minds & hearts— tina melissen (@tina melissen) 1555870633.0
@Mendelpol Pure evil.— (((deep state))) (@(((deep state)))) 1555868062.0
Though Sri Lanka was unprepared for the attack, investigations are now underway to determine exactly what happened.
Here's a photo I took of the Cinnamon Grand hotel. Several news outlets now reporting the suicide bomber was in lin… https://t.co/qcqOtHJCcf— Dave Malkoff (@Dave Malkoff) 1555865476.0
Prime Minister @RW_UNP says there appears to have been prior information about a possible attack. He was also not k… https://t.co/Gutzjcp0d2— Azzam Ameen (@Azzam Ameen) 1555860881.0
"There was no initial claim of responsibility for the attacks in Sri Lanka this morning but their scale and sophist… https://t.co/UHeW4gfuJM— The Sunday Times (@The Sunday Times) 1555844833.0
The world is understandably heartbroken at the senseless violence and destruction.
@malkoff This all is just heartbreaking. I just don’t understand anymore.— Reina6 (@Reina6) 1555888131.0
Some outlets have reported that there was some warning of the upcoming attacks, but that the signs were overlooked by government officials.
New details from AFP here. Sri Lanka's police chief issued an intelligence alert 10 days ago, warning that suicide… https://t.co/n9E7Gg9OZj— Rohit Kachroo (@Rohit Kachroo) 1555844985.0
@RohitKachrooITV The PM said he didn't know. Might there have been a conspiracy to obstruct communication, rather t… https://t.co/FNZle2Xm7D— Arti Maini (@Arti Maini) 1555922824.0
@Mendelpol Horrendous. Was in SL in October, some of the friendliest most wonderful people I’ve ever met.— Fred Nathan (@Fred Nathan) 1555882204.0
No country deserves an attack like this, let alone Sri Lanka, which is beloved by all who visit it.
The death toll in a series of explosions in #SriLanka on Sunday has risen to at least 207, with over 450 people inj… https://t.co/8Fld6cHZ6U— Twitter Moments UK & Ireland (@Twitter Moments UK & Ireland) 1555851678.0
It seems the attacks could have been even worse—police have uncovered multiple undetonated explosives in other areas of the country.
LATEST: Police say 3 more bombs found in van parked outside bombed church in #SriLanka; Bombs detonated as crews tr… https://t.co/lw6eWQMpZd— Dan Snyder (@Dan Snyder) 1555931365.0
Confirmed that bomb near Saint Anthony’s church was detonated by security forces themselves. But having been here w… https://t.co/eg89arnt5t— Sumisha Naidu (@Sumisha Naidu) 1555930347.0
Police source in Sri Lanka confirms to me that a cache of 87 detonators has been found on a bus in central Colombo… https://t.co/THozpvUoDB— Jake Wallis Simons (@Jake Wallis Simons) 1555929513.0
The world's thoughts and prayers are with Sri Lanka at this difficult point in their history. '
The nation will survive these attacks and become stronger than ever before, though they will never forget the lives lost on this day.