Sri Lanka blasts LIVE: At least 290 killed; explosion reported in Colombo

Three churches - St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church were hit by blasts. Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels, the Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury

4:14 PM

Explosion reported near Colombo church: Reuters

Explosion in a van near Colombo church while Sri Lanka bomb squad officials were trying to defuse it, reports Reuters

4:01 PM

Bomb detonators found

Sri Lankan police say they found 87 bomb detonators at the main bus station in the capital, Colombo, on Monday, a day after suicide bombers attacked churches and hotels killing 290 people and wounding about 500. Security forces are carrying out searches across the island to find those behind the bombs. 

3:00 PM

Sri Lanka to be in national mourning on Tuesday

Sri Lankan government has declared April 23 as a national day of mourning.

 

This decision was made during a discussion chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena along with members of the National Security Council.

2:02 PM

Authorities reimposes curfew in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan authorities reimposes curfew between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., says government information department

1:42 PM

Local outfit National Tawheed Jamath suspected of plotting blasts: Sri Lankan cabinet minister

A local organisation identified as the National Tawheed Jamath has been suspected of plotting Sunday's blasts, says Sri Lankan cabinet minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne while addressing media.

1:33 PM

7 suicide bombers carried out Easter blasts in Sri Lanka: Govt Analysts Dept

A total of seven suicide bombers carried out a series of eight devastating blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, says the Government Analysts Department.

1:31 PM

Interpol offers Sri Lanka assistance to investigate Easter Sunday blasts

The Interpol on Monday said it is ready to offer full support to the Sri Lankan authorities in investigating the country's deadliest terror attack that killed 290 people in a series of eight blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in the country.

 

Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock in a Twitter message said, "Interpol strongly condemns the horrific attacks and has offered its full support to the investigation being carried out by national authorities." 

12:57 PM

Who's behind the serial blasts in Sri Lanka? The aftermath of Easter attack

A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing over 290 people, including five Indians, and shattering a decade of peace in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

 

For more, listen to the podcast here

12:25 PM

Kerala forms 15-member medical team to assist Sri Lanka blast victims

Kerala government has formed a medical team of 15 experts to assist the victims in Sri Lanka blast. Discussions with MEA is underway to make necessary arrangements.

11:48 AM

Possible intelligence failures to be examined in Sri Lanka blasts

Police in Sri Lanka said on Monday the investigation into the Easter Sunday bombings will examine reports that the intelligence community failed to detect or warn of possible suicide attacks before the violence.

 

Two government ministers have alluded to intelligence failures.

 

Telecommunications Minister Harin Fernando tweeted, "Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. Serious action needs to be taken as to why this warning was ignored." 

 

He said his father had heard of the possibility of an attack as well and had warned him not to enter popular churches.

11:37 AM

11:09 AM

7-member team of JDS workers from Karnataka gone missing from Colombo: CM HD Kumaraswamy

I'm shocked to hear that a 7-member team of JDS workers from Karnataka, who were touring Colombo, has gone missing after bomb blasts and 2 of them are feared killed, says Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy.

"I'm in constant touch with Indian High Commission on reports of those missing," he added.

9:34 AM

At least six Indians killed in Sri Lanka blasts

At least six Indians have been killed in a string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, which struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka, officials said on Monday.

 

Around 500 people, including Indians, were injured in the blasts - one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history.

9:30 AM

24 people arrested in connection with Easter Sunday blasts

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 24 people from the minority Muslim community in connection with the multiple blasts, Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

 

However, the government said they will not disclose the details of the suspects involved in the attacks to prevent them from getting publicity.

8:52 PM

Sushma Swaraj clarifies dead Indian's name

8:15 PM

Three Indians killed in Sri Lanka blasts

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj says three Indian citizens have died in the blasts. 

 

7:35 PM

Indian woman killed

An Indian woman has died in the attacks in Colombo, media reports said. The Hindu identified her as Razeena, who was from Kerala and was visiting Colombo to meet her relatives. She was killed in a bomb at her hotel.

7:29 PM

Two Turkish citizens were among the people killed, according to Turkey's state media Anadolu. The Turks were engineers working on a project in Sri Lanka, said Anadolu.

7:07 PM

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep concerns over the explosions which took place on Sunday morning.

 

In the message, she prayed for peace and salvation of the departed souls and offered her condolences to the grieving families.

6:51 PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attacks "an assault on all of humanity"

6:32 PM

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a message to his Sri Lankan counterpart that he was "stunned and horrified" by the "cowardly terror attacks." 

 

Angel Merkel said: "Terrorism, religious hatred and intolerance cannot be allowed to win." "We're horrified by the news that Christians in Sri Lanka were attacked and killed during Easter services," wrote Merkel's spokesperson on Twitter. "We mourn them and pray for the injured and their family members."

6:29 PM

British, Dutch and American citizens among those killed

Hospital sources say British, Dutch and American citizens among those killed: AFP report

5:53 PM

Death toll at 207: Report

Death toll in the multiple explosions that hit Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to 207, reports Bloomberg News.

5:36 PM

Death toll nearly 200: reports

Death toll in the eight blasts that rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to nearly 200, say reports.

5:06 PM

7 people under arrest for attacks that killed at least 160 people

A Sri Lankan minister tweeted that 7 people have been arrested for attacks that killed at least 160 people.

4:50 PM

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern says: "New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism, and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil on the 15th of March."

 

" To see an attack in Sri Lanka while people were in churches and at hotels is devastating", she said in a written statement.

 

"New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely.

Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence."

4:47 PM

US President Donald Trump says: "Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels," he tweeted. "...We stand ready to help!"

4:01 PM

Eighth Sri Lanka blast was suicide bomb, killed three: Report

Police say eighth Sri Lanka blast was suicide bomb, killed three, reports news agency AFP.

3:55 PM

Sri Lanka curfew imposed immediately 'until further notice', says police: AFP report

Sri Lankan police says that curfew has been imposed effective immediately and will continue 'until further notice'. Earlier, the country's ministry of defence had said that the curfew will be from 6 pm local time today to 6 am local time on Monday.

3:42 PM

The eighth explosion was reported close to a housing complex at Dematogoda a short while ago, Sri Lankan police said.