Death toll from Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka rises to 207; 450 injured
AP |
Reuters |
AFPUpdated April 21, 2019
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Sri Lankan soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo. ─ AP
Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine. ─ Reuters
A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. ─ Reuters
Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo on April 21, 2019. ─ AFP
Sri Lankan soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo. ─ AP
Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine. ─ Reuters
A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. ─ Reuters
Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo on April 21, 2019. ─ AFP
Sri Lankan soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo. ─ AP
The death toll from a devastating series of eight bomb blasts that ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday has risen to 207, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. At least 450 people were injured in the attacks.
Speaking at a press conference, he said three people had been arrested in connection with the attacks that also killed dozens of foreigners.
Gunasekera said the police were investigating whether suicide bombers were involved in all of the blasts.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the attacks ─ the worst act of violence since the end of Sri Lanka's civil war a decade ago ─ as "cowardly", and said the government was working to "contain the situation".
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks in a country which was at war for decades with Tamil separatists until 2009 during which bomb blasts in the capital were common.
Christian groups say they have faced increasing intimidation from some extremist Buddhist monks in recent years. And last year, there were clashes between the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community and minority Muslims.
At a glance:
- Four hotels ─ Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Tropical Inn ─ targeted in Colombo
- One church each targeted in Colombo (St Anthony's Shrine), Negombo (St Sebastian's Church) and Batticaloa (Zeon Church)
- At least 47 killed in Colombo blasts: police
- At least 25 killed in Batticaloa blast: police
- At least 67 killed in Negombo blast: police
- 35 foreigners ─ including Dutch, US and UK citizens ─ dead: police
- At least 450 injured
- Curfew, 'temporary' social media ban imposed