A student from the same school as former President Barack Obama’s younger daughter Sasha has been named as among the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka.
Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa, a fifth grader at the elite Sidwell Friends School in Washington, was among nearly 400 people killed in the Sunday attacks. The school sent a letter to parents Monday letting them know of his death. He had taken a leave of absence from the school to live in Sri Lanka with his mother.
Sasha Obama, 17, is a pupil at the private school, which was also attended by her sister Malia, 20, who is now at Harvard. Former President Bill and Hillary Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, 39, also went to Sidwell, founded by Quakers in 1883, following in the footsteps of the children of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon
“Kieran was passionate about learning, he adored his friends, and he was incredibly excited about returning to Sidwell Friends this coming school year,” the letter reads. “I know that we will all be holding Kieran and his family in the Light. When we receive word regarding any type of memorial service, we will share the information with you.”
The U.S. embassy in Sri Lanka confirmed Monday that at least four Americans were among those killed in the blasts. Shafritz de Zoya’s nationality was unconfirmed. Sri Lankan authorities said Monday that they believed an Islamist organization inspired by the Islamic State carried out the bombings, at three churches and three high-end hotels on Christianity’s holiest day.
Dieter Kowalski, 40, an American from Denver, Colo., was killed during a business trip to the island nation. His company, Pearson, released a statement Monday confirming his death.
President Trump said Monday that he had spoken with Sri Lanka’s prime minister, tweeting: “Spoke to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka this morning to inform him that the United States stands by him and his country in the fight against terrorism. Also expressed condolences on behalf of myself and the People of the United States!”
Spoke to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka this morning to inform him that the United States stands by him and his country in the fight against terrorism. Also expressed condolences on behalf of myself and the People of the United States!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2019
