More than 200 people were killed and hundreds more hospitalised from injuries in eight blasts that rocked some churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
According to Reuters, the Sri Lanka government has imposed curfew with immediate effect and it is unclear when it will be lifted.
The death toll in the Sri Lanka blasts targeting churches and hotels has risen to 190, AP quoted the country’s deputy transport minister as saying.
At least 35 foreigners are said to be among those who died in the blasts for which no group has claimed responsibility so far.
While three high-end hotels and one church were earlier targeted in the capital Colombo, two other churches were attacked in Negombo and Batticaloa.
The blasts occurred around 8:45 am (local time) as the Easter Sunday masses were in progress. This is the greatest act of violence in Sri Lanka since its civil war ended a decade ago.
The Sri Lankan police chief had warned of possible suicide attacks before the Sunday blasts took place, AFP reported, citing a document.
According to the police, three churches – St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa – were targeted.
The hotels targeted in Colombo include the Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)