Sri Lanka Imposes Curfew after at least 207 Killed in Bomb Attacks

Colombo, MINA – At least 207 people have been killed and 450 hurt in explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, police said.

Eight blasts were reported, including at three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo’s Kochchikade district during Easter services.

The Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels and one other, all in the capital, were also targeted, BBC News reported.

A national curfew has been put in place “until further notice” and social media networks have been temporarily blocked.

A foreign ministry official said 27 foreign nationals were among the dead.

Reports say seven people have been arrested, but it not yet clear who is responsible for the attacks.

Sri Lanka’s defence minister has said the attacks were probably carried out by one group.

The first reports of explosions came at about 08:45 (03:15 GMT) local time – with six blasts reported close together at churches and luxury hotels.

St Sebastian’s church in Negombo was severely damaged in one explosion, with dozens killed at the site.

Images from inside showed blood on the pews and the building’s ceiling shattered.

There were also heavy casualties at the site of the first blast in St Anthony’s, a hugely popular shrine in Kochchikade, a district of Colombo.

Robert Tyler, who has lived in Sri Lanka for six years, told the BBC that at least two of the hotels appeared to have had their restaurants targeted at a busy time for breakfast.

The UK’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, James Dauris has said British citizens were caught up in the explosions, but has not confirmed further details.

One Dutch national is among the dead, Foreign Minister Stef Blok said in a statement.

Two Turkish citizens have also been killed, state news agency Anadolu reports.(T/R04/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)