Britons killed in Sri Lanka Easter Sunday bombings unlawfully killed, coroner rules

Six Britons who died in bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday were unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.

High-flying lawyer Anita Nicholson, 42, and her children, 14-year-old Alexander Nicholson and Annabel Nicholson, 11, died instantly when an IED was detonated in the restaurant of the Shangri-la Hotel in Colombo where they were staying on April 21 this year.

IT director Lorraine Campbell, 55, and married couple William Harrop, a retired firefighter, and doctor Sally Bradley died in a blast in the restaurant of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel.

Senior coroner for Essex Caroline-Beasley-Murray recorded that all six were unlawfully killed as she concluded inquest hearings in Chelmsford.

The Britons were caught up in the bomb blasts which targeted churches and hotels and left hundreds of locals dead.

Officials said 38 foreigners were among the dead including British, Indian, Danish, Dutch, Swiss, Spanish, US, Australian and Turkish nationals.