Sri Lanka news: Five British citizens among more than 200 killed after eight explosions hit churches and hotels
More than 200 people have been killed and hundreds more injured after eight bombs were detonated at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
Ruwan Wijewardena, the country’s defence minister, described the blasts as terrorist attacks by religious extremists, though no group has claimed responsibility for the violence.
Most of the explosions are believed to have been suicide bombings, which occurred at sites mainly in and around the capital of Colombo.
Officials said that 13 suspects had been arrested in connection to the attacks.
Three police officers were also killed while carrying out a security raid at a suspected safe house several hours after the blasts occurred.
The majority of the victims are Sri Lankan but several citizens of other countries were also killed.
Citizens from the US, Turkey, Denmark, China and Portugal were also among the dead.
The Sri Lankan government has declared a dawn-to-dusk curfew in Colombo and blocked access to social media and messaging sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
It is unclear when the curfew will be lifted.
Additional reporting by agencies
If you would like to read about the aftermath of the attacks please see what was our live coverage below:
Sri Lankan authorities have blocked most social media sites in the country following Sunday's attacks, according to a group which monitors internet censorship.
The NetBlocks observatory says it detected an intentional nationwide blackout of popular services.
Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram have all been blocked.
Sri Lankan officials said that they were temporarily blocking social media to curtail the spread of false information and ease tensions until their investigation is concluded.
NetBlocks director Alp Toker said such post-attack shutdowns were often ineffective and can end up creating an information vacuum that's easily exploited.
A spokesperson for Facebook said that people relied on its services to communicate with loved ones and that it was committing to maintaining service in Sri Lanka.
A Sri Lankan mosque has been petrol bombed and there have been attacks on Muslim-owned shops in the country as officials warn Sunday's attacks could lead to communal violence.
Police officers said there had been a petrol bomb attack on a mosque in the northwestern district of Puttalum and attacks on shops in Kalutara.
In February and March 2018 there were a series of religious clashes between Sinhalese Buddhists and Muslims in the towns of Ampara and Kandy.
The BBC is reporting that Sri Lanka's air force carried out a controlled explosion after an improvised explosive device was found near Katunayake Airport.
Emirates, which flies many British travellers between the UK and Sri Lanka, has told The Independent: "Emirates flights between Colombo and Dubai are operating as scheduled.
"We are monitoring the situation closely. Customers with existing bookings to or from Colombo made on or before April 21 can amend or cancel their flights without charge by contacting their booking agent."
"In many ways Sri Lanka is a success story. We need to remind ourselves of that."
Our columnist Hamish McRae, points out that, despite Sunday's attacks, Sri Lanka has made huge advances in living standards, social and economic opportunities in the last decade.
Jeremy Hunt, the UK's foreign secretary, has condemned Sunday's attacks.
"I'm deeply shocked and saddened by the horrifying attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka today, and the tragic news of more than 200 people killed, including several British nationals," he said in a statement.
"To target those gathered for the simple act of worship on Easter Sunday is unspeakably wicked.
"Everyone has a right to practise their faith in peace, safety and security but tragedies like this, and the one in Christchurch, remind us that there are some who hate these rights and freedoms.
"These despicable acts were carried out at a time when millions of Christians celebrate Easter while living under the shadow of persecution.
"Many gather in churches at risk of attack; countless more will have suffered threats or discrimination.
"The UK stands in solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world and with the government and people of Sri Lanka.
"My prayers are with all the victims and their families."
New York City police will implement tighter security measures in the wake of Sunday's attacks in Sri Lanka.
Officers "will make periodic visits to all houses of worship, giving special attention to those with Easter services", a spokesperson for the New York Police Department (NYPD) said.
The deployed teams will have the ability to respond to incidents such as terror attacks.
James Dauris, the UK's High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, has visited injured British citizens in hospital and condemned Sunday's "senseless attack".
"I've been speaking this afternoon with Brits in hospital who have been affected by today's senseless attacks," he said.
"My team's and my thoughts go out to all those people who are suffering as a result of the deplorable violence Sri Lanka has witnessed this Easter Sunday."
Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, said the attacks were "horrifying", and "to target those gathered for worship on Easter Sunday is particularly wicked".
Muslim groups in Sri Lanka have condemned Sunday's attacks.
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said it mourned the loss of innocent people in the blasts, by extremists who seek to divide religious and ethnic groups.
The All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulama a body of Muslim clerics, said targeting Christian places of worship could not be accepted.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder notes that the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued fresh travel advice regarding Sri Lanka.
It says British visitors should “follow the advice of local security authorities, hotel security staff or your tour company”.
The FCO adds that travellers should limit their their movements during the dusk-to-dawn curfew – though anyone with a flight booked from Colombo airport will be allowed to travel during the curfew provided they have their passport and a ticket valid for travel on Monday.
Passengers who arrive during the curfew will also be allowed to travel on to their intended destination.
The Foreign Office has confirmed that British nationals were among those killed in Sunday's bombings in Sri Lanka.
British officials are supporting the relatives of the victims and are continuing to work with the relevant authorities to obtain further information, a spokesperson said.
Sri Lanka's ministry of foreign affairs had previously confirmed that at least five British people had been killed in the attacks.
Earlier on Sunday the Press Association reported that three Britons and two individuals holding joint United States and British citizenship were killed in the blasts.
Several US citizens have been killed in the Easter Sunday bombings.
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, said in a statement that the US Embassy in Colombo was working to assist citizens and their families.
"These vile attacks are a stark reminder of why the United States remains resolved in our fight to defeat terrorism," Mr Pompeo said.
He added that "innocent people gathering in a place of worship or enjoying a holiday meal are affronts to the universal values and freedoms that we hold dear."
