A British teenage brother and sister escaped one of the Sri Lankan terror blasts only to be killed by a second, it was revealed last night.
Daniel Linsey, 19 and his younger sister Amelie, 15, were having breakfast with their father Matthew at the luxury Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo before their flight home.
The teenagers somehow survived when a suicide bomb was detonated among the diners, including many tourists. But they died moments later when a second bomber struck as they tried to escape the carnage.
They are among almost 300 people massacred – including six more Britons – after suicide bombers cut down tourists and Easter Sunday mass worshippers, including dozens of children.
Amelie Linsey, 15, left, and brother Daniel, 19, right, were in the dining room of the Shangri-La hotel in Columbo when a bomber struck but escaped, only to be killed moments later by a second terrorist's blast
Last night, the island was under a state of emergency after the explosions. In other developments:
British father Ben Nicholson confirmed he had lost his whole family in the attacks. His wife Anita, 42 and their children Alex, 14, and Annabel, 11, were killed as they ate breakfast; Asos billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen lost three of his four children in the attack while on holiday with his wife; Senior Sri Lankan officials were repeatedly warned for three years that an attack would happen – but nothing was done because of political infighting; Fears were growing that more explosives are on the streets after police found 87 detonators and a pipe bomb filled with 110lb of explosives – big enough to cause a 400-yard blast radius; A video emerged of alleged ringleader Moulvi Zahran Hashim issuing threats against 'infidels' with a Union Jack in the background.Devastated Mr Linsey, 63, an American city fund manager, returned to the family home in central London, yesterday to be with his British wife Angelina, 51, and his other two sons – aged 12 and 21 – who were not on the holiday.
David Linsey, 21, told the Mail the family were on the last day of their Easter break: 'They were due to fly home that day and had been having breakfast when the first bomb went off.
Amelie Linsey on a recent trip to Vietnam. She was killed, aged 15, in the Easter Sunday terror attack in Sri Lanka which claimed 300 lives including eight Britons
Londoner Matthew Linsey, pictured several years ago with his children Daniel and Ameli, both of whom were murdered on Easter Sunday
'My dad said they were all caught up in a second explosion as they tried to escape. Both my brother and sister were instantly unconscious and were taken to hospital but they never woke up. My dad is shocked and has not said much apart from that. He is trying to be strong for my little brother who is 12 and my mum.'
Mr Linsey was said to have had suffered shrapnel wounds to his face and was yesterday being comforted by relatives at the family home. Oxford graduate David described how his father initially hoped Amelie had survived the impact of the blast as she had no major visible injuries.
'At first they didn't think Amelie was injured badly as there were no obvious wounds. Someone else took her to hospital but she must have had internal injuries.
'I think they both died instantly as they never woke up. We cannot believe this has happened. I can't describe just how devastating it is. You don't think it will happen to you. We miss them so much already,' he said. The devastated brother said the family has decided not to watch the news and were not ready to hear emerging questions about security blunders which could have prevented the deadly attacks.
He said the three had been on a trip of life time touring Asia over the Easter period and had travelled to Vietnam before arriving in Sri Lanka just days before the tragedy. He said: 'They were really excited about it. It was supposed to be a nice Easter break and for them to spend time with my dad.
Ben Nicholson lost his wife Anita, 42 and their children Alex, 14, and Annabel, 11, who were killed as they ate breakfast
'Daniel had always wanted to go to Sri Lanka and they had been to see the elephants.'
He said his brother, who was due to complete his
