Danish media have reported that Holch Povlsen, his wife Anne and their four children were in Sri Lanka on vacation at the moment of the attacks, which struck churches and luxury hotels killing nearly 300 people.
“I can confirm that three children have been killed,” Jesper Stubkier, the communications manager for Bestseller, said in a statement.
“We ask you to respect the privacy of the family and we, therefore, have no further comments.”
Considered to be Denmark’s richest man, 46-year-old Holch Povlsen is the main shareholder in the online fashion retailer ASOS as well as the owner of Bestseller.
He inherited Bestseller from his parents who founded the firm in 1975.
The group, which includes brands such as Vero Moda, Only and Jack & Jones, has more than 3,000 stores in 70 countries.
In addition to the majority stake in Britain-based ASOS, Holch Povlsen also owns an interest in its German rival Zalando.
The billionaire also describes himself as “one of Scotland’s largest landowners” on the website of the Wildland company he uses to invest in UK property.
“We wish to restore our parts of the (Scotland) Highlands to their former magnificent natural state and repair the harm that man has inflicted on them,” Holch Povlsen and his wife say on the website.
“There are many vulnerable properties across all of the holdings that we have the wonderful and privileged opportunity to rehabilitate and restore to life.”
Sri Lankan officials said Monday they believe that the local Islamist extremist group National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) was behind the attacks.
Dozens of foreigners are among those killed, while some 500 people were injured.
Police officers inspect the scene after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019 |
EPA
Sri Lankan Special Task Force officers raid a house following an explosion in capital Colombo |
AFP/Getty
A police officer inspects the damage after a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo | AP
A woman is helped near St Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019. At least 130 people were killed and more than 500 hospitalised after near-simultaneous explosions hit three hotels and three churches on Easter Sunday. | AP
Queues at the National Blood Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a request for blood to aid in recovery efforts | Mr. Lavasquabble/Twitter
Priests stand inside St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade church on the outskirts of Colombo after a bombing |
Reuters
The Kingsbury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a bombing attack | Getty
The damaged interior of a church in Negombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing attack | Reuters
The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing |
AFP/Getty
Police and security personnel stand guard outside the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo following a bombing attack |
EPA
Security personnel work at the scene of a bombing at a church in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka |
AFP/Getty
Medical response team work to remove dead bodies from the scene of bombings in Sri Lankan capital Colombo |
AFP/Getty
Debris is seen at St Anthony’s Church in this still image from video footage after explosions hit churches and hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019 |
Derana TV/via Reuters
Security forces inspect the scene of a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo |
Getty
Damage inside a church following a bombing attack |
AP
A Sri Lankan Special Task Force officer scales a house during a raid following an explosion in capital Colombo |
AFP/Getty
A general interior view showing damage after an explosion hit St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019 |
EPA
Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019 |
AFP/Getty
Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday 21 April 2019 | AP
Armed policemen patrol the area after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019 | EPA
Priests walk into St Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019 | Reuters
Sri Lankan police officers clear the road as an ambulance drives through carrying injured of church blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019 | AP
A Sri Lankan police officer stands outside St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a blast on Sunday 21 April 2019 | AP
A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade Church | Reuters
Local and security officials gather at the scene at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka | EPA
An ambulance is seen outside the church premises with gathered security personnel following a blast at St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019 | AFP/Getty
