ASOS billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen's three children among Sri Lanka bombing victims

Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne Holch Povlsen
AFP/Getty Images

Three children of ASOS billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen were killed in the wave of bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

A British mother and her two children were also among at least eight Brits who died when a series of blasts hit churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday.

Police and security services are continuing to investigate the explosions, mostly thought to be the work of suicide bombers, which killed 321 people and injured 500.

A Sri Lankan government official said on Monday a local Islamist group was responsible for the attacks and 40 people have been arrested by police.

Most of those killed in the atrocity were Sri Lankan and at least 27 foreigners from countries including Britain, the US, China, Japan, Portugal, Denmark and Australia also died.

Sri Lanka bombings - In pictures

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Here’s what we know so far about the victims:

ASOS billionaire's children

A spokesman for Danish businessman Mr Holch Povlsen, a father of four, confirmed that three of his children were among those who died in the attacks.

Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne Holch Povlsen pictured in 2018
AFP/Getty Images

The billionaire fashion tycoon behind online clothing retailer ASOS is Denmark's wealthiest man and is believed to be the largest landowner in Scotland after buying a string of historic estates.

The 46-year-old and his wife Anne hold an estimate 200,000 acres of the Scottish Highlands, and had planned to rewild the landscape to preserve it for future generations, according to a Guardian report from earlier this year.

Jesper Stubkier, communications manager for Mr Holch Povlsen's wholesale fashion business Bestseller, said the couple had lost three children in the Easter Sunday attacks.

He said: "I can confirm that three children have been killed.

"We have no further comment and we ask that the family's privacy is respected at this time."

He declined to comment on the identity of the children or whether other members of the family had been visiting Sri Lanka.

It is also unknown in which of the series of blasts they lost their lives.

According to Forbes, Mr Holch Povlsen has a net worth of $7.9 billion (£6.1 billion).

Brit mum, son and daughter

British mum Anita Nicholson, 42, her 11-year-old son Alex and 14-year-old daughter Annabel also died in the attacks. They were dining in the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo when a bomber struck.

Alex, Anita, Annabel and Ben Nicholson
Facebook

Husband Ben Nicholson, who survived, said he was "deeply distressed" at the loss of his wife and children.

He said: "Anita was a wonderful, perfect wife and a brilliant, loving and inspirational mother to our two wonderful children.

"Alex and Annabel were the most amazing, intelligent, talented and thoughtful children and Anita and I were immensely proud of them both and looking forward to seeing them develop into adulthood.

"They shared with their mother the priceless ability to light up any room they entered and bring joy to the lives of all they came into contact with."

According to her LinkedIn profile, Mrs Nicholson was based in Singapore as managing counsel at the mining and metals company Anglo American.

Eight Brits among those killed

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the UK, Manisha Gunasekera, said eight British nationals were killed in the attacks.

"As of now I think there is information on eight nationals who have lost their lives and the other numbers are of other nationals," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Sri Lankan celebrity chef

A well-known chef and her daughter also died in Sunday's attacks.

Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter Nisanga had also been staying at the Shangri-La hotel, one of four luxury hotels targeted.

Nisanga Mayadunne, believed to be aged in her 30s, had studied at the University of London, according to her social media page which has been flooded with tributes to the mother and daughter.

Her friend Radha Fonseco told Gulf News: "Nilanga was a very popular girl in college. Besides the fact that she was bright and smart, her mother Shantha Mayadunne, a renowned chef, made her more popular in college. She (the mother) was well respected and an inspirational chef for Sri Lankans."

Labour MP's relative

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq said she had lost a relative in the attacks.

She posted on Twitter: "It's all so devastating. Hope everyone is keeping safe. Solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka."

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