BRADFORD fell silent this evening to remember those who lost their lives in the devastating Sri Lankan terror attacks on Easter Sunday.
People of all faiths gathered in Centenary Square in a poignant show of solidarity and unity.
The bombings in and outside of Colombo killed more than 300 people and left 500 wounded.
The six near-simultaneous attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels and three related blasts later Sunday were the South Asian island nation’s deadliest violence in a decade.
Sri Lanka’s state minister of defence has said the attack was “carried out in retaliation” for the shooting massacre at two New Zealand mosques last month.
The vigil was led by The Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford Cathedral.
It was also attended by Councillor Zafar Ali, the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Believing in Bradford Ambassadors and other faith leaders.
Bishop of Bradford Toby Howarth said: "What they were trying to do is push us apart and actually today, here, we have come together.
"We need to know that we've got each other's backs. We were here for our Jewish sisters and brothers, we were here for our Muslim sisters and brothers and now we're here for Christians and others of course in Sri Lanka."
This is what makes Bradford special. All faiths standing as one to show support and pray for the victims of the Sri Lankan atrocity. @WYP_BradfordC @WestYorksPolice @bradfordmdc #policingbradford #SriLanka #multifaith pic.twitter.com/TwRtCo8aY1
— Pete Hall (@pete5567hall) April 23, 2019
Balu Lad added: "As Bradfordians, we always stand together and say 'no'.
"We stick together, we stand together as a united front."
Mohinder Singh Chana said: "We are together here, but our hearts are with the people who are suffering who have lost so much in Sri Lanka."
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