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Sri Lanka Catholics hold first Sunday Mass since Easter bombings

A Sri Lankan soldier secures the premises of a Catholic church as devotees leave after Sunday Mass at the church in Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 12, 2019.

A Sri Lankan soldier secures the premises of a Catholic church as devotees leave after Sunday Mass at the church in Colombo, Sri Lanka on May 12, 2019.   | Photo Credit: AP

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Seven suicide bombers struck two Catholic and one Protestant church and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has held the first regular Sunday Mass on May 12 since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels on April 21 killed more than 250 people.

Military forces and police armed with assault rifles are patrolling the streets leading to churches and standing guard outside the compounds. Everyone entering is required to produce identity cards and is body searched.

Parking is banned near the churches and officials have requested worshippers to bring along only minimum baggage.

Seven suicide bombers struck two Catholic and one Protestant church and three luxury hotels. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, carried out by a local radicalized Muslim group.

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