35 foreign nationals among killed in Sri Lanka bombings

By Emre Aytekin and Recep Sakar

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 35 foreign nationals, including two Turkish people, lost their lives in Sunday's multiple terror attacks in Sri Lanka, officials said on Monday.

A total of eight explosions left at least 290 dead, over 500 injured when they targeted eight different locations in and outside the capital Colombo.

Turkey, the U.K., Denmark, India, the Netherlands, China, Australia and Portugal are the countries that have approved their casualties so far.

The bombings hit churches in Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa cities, as well as Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand and Shangri La hotels in Colombo.

Among the victims were two nationals from Turkey, eight from the U.K. -- two of them with the dual U.S. citizenship --, three nationals from Denmark and India each, as well as one from Portugal, the Netherlands, China and Australia each.

There was a petrol bomb attack on a mosque in the northwestern district of Puttalum and arson attacks on two shops owned by Muslims in the western district of Kalutara on Sunday night, according to police reports.

The nationalities of the 15 remaining are yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan officials have not shared any information about the identities of the deceased.

*Writing by Burak Bir