The Jewish community in London is mourning the loss of a brother and sister that were among the eight Britons killed in the coordinated bombing attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Leigh of Hurley paid his respects to Amelie, 15, and Daniel Linsey, 19, two members of Westminster synagogue, of which he is the president.
Lord Leigh told the House: “While the intended target of this atrocity were clearly meant to be Christian, the terrorists’ bombs did not discriminate. The Linsey family were members of my synagogue They shared the same classes as my children. Amelie celebrated her batmitzvah last March, reading with poise, maturity and warmth from our Torah scrolls.”
He added: “Daniel was especially interested in Jewish festivals. He came to our synagogue before Purim… to help our staff setting up for the evening festivities. We have pledged as a community to offer our love and support to the Linsey family and do everything we can every step of the way. The Jewish community is used to counselling mourners who have been affected by the terrorists’ bomb, and this is another chapter in this sad and sorry book.”
Watch-A moving and emotional tribute this evening in the House of Lords for Daniel and Amelie Linsey – the two Jewish teenagers murdered in the Sri Lankan bombings – from Lord Leigh of Hurley, President of Westminster Shul pic.twitter.com/lekeo0kg3D
— SussexFriendsIsrael (@SussexFriends) April 24, 2019
Addressing the minister, Baroness Goldie, Lord Leigh requested the government “double its efforts to ensure that the bodies of the siblings are returned as soon as possible.”
He added: ” The families are trying to make progress and would be very grateful for any assistance she can provide through the civil service, to ensure that happens as quickly as possible, as required by the Jewish faith.”
Amelie and Daniel’s father, Matthew Linsey, a dual US-UK citizen, spoke to CNN in an emotional interview, where he paid respects to his children in the wake of the bombings.
He relayed the aftermath of the explosion, saying: “When the bomb went off, it’s hard to describe.. it’s like a wave coming through of pressure.”
“My children were so nice. They actually went down to the buffet for me and got the food for me and filled up my plate. And then I said I wanted a bit more. My daughter said I’ll get it, and then the bomb went off and they were both running towards me.
Saying his instinct was to get out “as soon as possible”, he added “maybe I should have just stayed and covered them with my body”, adding that after a second blast near the hotel lift, they “both were unconscious.”
“My daughter seemed to be moving, my son wasn’t. A woman offered to take my daughter downstairs to the ambulance. I needed help moving my son. Someone helped me move him down the stairs and they both ended up in the same hospital.
“I travelled with my son to the hospital.”
In the hospital, he said he “yelled for help” and lost his voice, adding “the people were very helpful.. they did their best. They were very efficient and very kind.”
Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl tweeted: “We condemn the shocking bomb attacks on those murdered innocently at prayer in churches in Sri Lanka for Easter morning and in other hotels. All our sympathies are with the victims and their families at this terrible time.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “The sheer scale of the violence places it among the most inhuman acts of mass murder in living memory and our hearts go out to the countless people mourning the loss of loved ones. We grieve alongside you..”
The first six blasts occurred at almost the same time on Sunday morning, four in the commercial capital of Colombo, and the others in the cities of Negombo and Batticaloa. Three of the targets were churches and three were hotels.
A seventh took place hours later and an eighth, in a residential neighbourhood.
On Thursday, the death toll was revised to 253, the majority of which were Sri Lankan Christians. About 38 of the victims were identified as “foreigners”, with Indian, American, British and Dutch citizens reportedly among those killed.
