Maine leaders react in horror after Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka

MAINE (WGME) -- Maine's congressional delegation and governor are reacting with shock and dismay over the bombing attacks Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.

US Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, along with US Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden responded on Twitter after the news broke.

More than 200 people have died in a series of blasts against churches and hotels that the Sri Lankan government is blaming on religious extremists.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement says that even as details of the attacks are still emerging, the U.S. government can confirm that Americans are among the casualties.

Wishing Mainers Easter greetings, Collins also tweeted, "On this day of joyous celebration, I was sickened to hear of the deadly attacks in Sri Lanka, many aimed at Easter services. My heart goes out to the Sri Lankan people."

King said Easter Sunday and Passover are times to rejoice, "But today cannot only be a day of rejoicing — we must also mourn those in Sri Lanka, who were senselessly attacked in their places of worship as they observed this sacred occasion. On this holy day, our hearts are with these victims and their families."

Since the end of the nation's 26-year civil war, in which the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group from the ethnic Tamil minority, sought independence from ethnic Sinhala Buddhist majority Sri Lanka, the country has seen sporadic ethnic and religious violence.

But the scale of Sunday's bloodshed recalled the worst days of the war, when the Tigers and other rebels set off explosions at Sri Lanka's Central Bank in downtown Colombo, a busy shopping mall, an important Buddhist temple and tourist hotels.

"My heart breaks for the Sri Lankan people who were attacked as they, like so many in Maine and around the world, gathered together in joyful celebration and faith on these most holy days," Mills said. "As Maine people celebrate Easter and Passover, let us keep the people of Sri Lanka in our thoughts, our hearts, and our prayers."

Pingree said, "I’m heartbroken by the loss of hundreds of lives in Sri Lanka. May we keep those affected and their loved ones in our thoughts as they grieve these horrifying Easter Sunday attacks."

"The news from Sri Lanka today hurts deeply," Golden said. "I’ll be praying for the victims and their families and I stand with Sri Lankans of all faiths against the fear and hate of these attacks."