Melbourne mother and daughter and UK pair living in Perth also killed in Sri Lanka terror attacks
A UK doctor and a retired hero firefighter who were living in Australia were killed in Sri Lanka, as an Australian father told of the heartbreaking moment he found his wife and daughter dead.
Crime in Focus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crime in Focus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A British doctor and a retired hero firefighter who were living in Australia have been named as two of the eight Britons killed in the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka.
The news comes as an Australian father has described the heartbreaking moment he found his wife and daughter who were killed in the Sri Lankan terror attacks.
Dr Sally Bradley and her husband Bill Harrop were staying in the Cinnamon Grand Hotel when one of the seven suicide bombers struck.
The couple had been living in Perth since 2013 where Dr Bradley was practising medicine, but were due to return to the UK soon.
MORE SRI LANKA TERROR ATTACK NEWS:
ASOS BILLIONAIRE LOSES THREE KIDS IN SRI LANKA ATTACK
BOMBER QUEUED FOR BREAKFAST BEFORE BLASTS
HOW THE SRI LANKA ATTACKS UNFOLDED
Dr Bradley’s nephew Jonathan Bradley described her as a “true daughter of Manchester” who had worked as a GP in Salford, a director of public health in Manchester and as a consultant.
Harrop retired from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in 2012 after 30 years as a firefighter and was decorated for his role in the aftermath of the 1996 IRA attack on Manchester.
He had two sons from a previous relationship, Miles and Gavin. Gavin had been holidaying with them at the time of the blast but was staying at a different hotel.
Dr Bradley’s family said in a statement: “She was the personification of joy that life could bring if you approached it with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. She dedicated her professional life to public service and was a true daughter of Greater Manchester.”
Her family added: “Their aim was always to experience life to the fullest.
“Kindred spirits, they travelled the world together, safe in each other’s arms and with smiles across their faces.
“They were the heartbeat of their families and the inspiration in their lives. They will be forever sorely missed, but never forgotten.”
Assistant County Fire Officer Dave Keelan, of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, paid tribute to his former colleague.
“This is devastating news and the thoughts of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are with Bill and Sally’s families,” he said.
AUSSIE FATHER DESCRIBES MOMENT HE FOUND FAMILY DEAD
Sudesh Kolonne had briefly left the church after a service when a bomb went off, claiming his wife Manik Suriyaaratchi and their 10-year-old daughter, Alexendria
“There was a bomb blast, I heard a huge noise and I jump into the church and I saw that my daughter and my wife was on the floor,” he told ABC in Colombo.
“I don’t know what to do. And I was … just saw my daughter on the floor and I tried to lift her up, she’s already dead, exactly the same next my wife is dead.
“That’s the end of the story of - end of the story of my daughter, my wife.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the identity of Manik Suriaaratchi and Alexendria this morning.
The family were attending an Easter Sunday service in Negombo when they died in the attacks, which have claimed at least 290 lives.
Alexendria was born in Melbourne and the family lived in the city’s southeast but had returned to Sri Lanka in recent years.
A suicide bomber detonated explosives in St Sebastian’s Church where the family were attending a service. It was one of several bomb blasts that ripped through three churches, three luxury hotels and a guesthouse on Easter Sunday.
Manik Suriaaratchi and her daughter, Alexendria, were dual Australian and Sri Lankan nationals.
No group has yet taken responsibility for the six near-simultaneous blasts at churches and luxury hotels that have killed 290 and injured 500.
But police have so far arrested 13 suspects.
Authorities yesterday blew up another bomb that was discovered at Colombo airport.
Last night, tributes flowed for Ms Suriaaratchi, who had a background in catering and was a managing director for a business that was a partner of Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.
And Alexendria was remembered on Facebook as an “angel”.
“You will never be forgotten and always in our hearts,” Lucien Pereira posted.
Mr Pereira told the Herald Sun Manik and her family used to live in Glen Waverley.
“Our daughters are similar ages, and they used to play together when they were around six years old,” he said.
“We would go to temple together, to kids’ parties together — we had a really good bond.
“It’s hard to see someone you know caught up in something so horrible.
“They were working on a Dengue (fever) prevention project, they were doing a lot of good stuff.”
Online news magazine New AusNewsLaka confirmed the mother and daughter, from the southeastern suburbs, were victims of the terrorist attacks.
“Dearest Manik and little Alex … still cannot believe that you are no longer with us. May your soul rest in peace,” a friend posted on Facebook.
Suranga Tennakoon also posted on Facebook: “We lost another most valuable asset to Hospitality Industry, she is Manik Suriaaratchi. My deepest sympathies! So sorry to hear of your loss.”
Members of Melbourne’s large Sri Lankan community last night gathered for a vigil in Keysborough, 30km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, to remember those killed and to pray for the hundreds injured.
Dinesh Arachchige said he came with his children, Devin and Methuli, and wife Jeewanthi Hewage to pay their respects.
“It is so frightening, especially after the last 10 years of peace,” Mr Dinesh said.
Among the foreign victims were Britons, Americans, Turks, Indians, Chinese, Danes, Dutch and Portuguese.
Eight Britons were killed, including lawyer Anita Nicholson, 42, and her son Alex, 11, who were queuing for breakfast in the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.
Australian tourist Sam, who was dining at the hotel, said it was a scene of carnage with “bodies everywhere”.
“Everything came crashing down, carnage everywhere,” he told 3AW. “A lot of people around covered in blood.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last night confirmed two Australian women were among the 500 injured.
Both dual nationals, and aged in their mid-50s and late 20s, they were treated for shrapnel wounds and a broken leg, and were last night in a stable condition.
A large group of Sri Lankans gathered at Federation Square yesterday, holding signs that read “No terrorism”.
Speaking from Colombo, Melbourne-based Delain Gunewardena told the Herald Sun he had been due to have Easter lunch with his young family at the Cinnamon Grand, which was one of the hotels attacked.
He counted himself lucky: they were evacuated from a nearby church due to a bomb scare during the service.
“My friend’s neighbour was killed,” he said. “And my friend who lives in Melbourne lost his cousin … His cousin’s kids are severely injured.”
Melbourne-based Dulip, 39, who did not wish to give his surname, said: “Even though we are used to war, this was an attack on another scale.
“I have many friends who are OK but who are nervous and concerned for their safety. To them it feels like a war zone.”
Melbourne tourist Elaine Phelan had visited the hotels and churches shortly before the bombings.
“I really feel for these people, because they were so excited to show off their country. The people are so welcoming and happy,” she said.
Ms Phelan flew from Colombo eight hours before the blasts and said it was “terrifying” to think a bomb found at the airport could have been planted before her arrival.
The Australian Tamil Association last night condemned the attacks and said it would stand in solidarity with victims and their loved ones.
Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed their deaths and Australian injuries.
“We extend our deepest and most sincere sympathy to the family,” he said.
Mr Morrison said out of respect for the family, no further details were available on Manik and her daughter.
Of the injured Australians, one was a woman in her mid-50s and a woman in her late 20s.
The two injured women also held dual citizenship, Mr Morrison said.
“Both are in a stable condition, I understand,” Mr Morrison said.
“One was treated for shrapnel wounds and the other was treated for a broken leg.”
The Prime Minister could not rule out more Australians being injured or killed in the Sri Lankan tragedy.
“The circumstances of this horrible massacre — we are now at a level where we have over 500 people injured,” he said.
“And when it comes to those who are deceased, the most recent figures we have now is the death toll has risen to 290, that is what the police are reporting.
“As the days pass and the injured are treated and some of them succumb to their wounds as well, we are seeing this massacre go from what was bad, very bad, to much much worse.
“It is just a terribly sad day. Sri Lanka will be devastated by this as I think all peace-loving people are.”
Originally published as Melbourne mother and daughter and UK pair living in Perth also killed in Sri Lanka terror attacks
‘Living nightmare’: Family pain of Aussies killed in the Philippines
The family of an Australian couple found dead in a hotel room broke down as they revealed the cruelty behind the senseless murder the Philippines.
Scary way criminals are using GPS trackers
Almost half of all GPS trackers are going to buyers with nefarious backgrounds and many are allegedly used in high-profile cases including the alleged murder of bikie boss Alen Moradian.