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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Naaman Zhou , Haroon Siddique, Alison Rourke and Mattha Busby

Authorities warned on 4 April of potential attacks, Sri Lankan minister says – as it happened

This live blog has now closed, but our coverage of the Sri Lankan attacks continues on a new live blog. Click here for the new blog.

Senaratne has also announced that the victims’ families and the injured will receive government compensation.

“Today we have decided as a cabinet that we shall compensate all the people who died. 100,000 rupees for their funeral expenses,” he said.

The injured will also receive payments, and the bombed churches will be repaired with government funds. “This will start very soon,” he said. “We are responsible, we are very sorry and we are doing our best to apologise to everybody.”

To recap: the health minister said authorities were warned two weeks before the attacks, and had the names of attackers, but this information was not shared with prime minister Wickremesinghe.

The president, Maithripala Sirisena, has the portfolio of defence.

“This is the only country where when the prime minister summons the security council they don’t assemble,” minister Seranatne said. “We are not trying to evade responsibility but these are the facts. We were surprised to see these reports.”

Updated

“We do not believe these attacks were carried out by a group of people who were confined to this country. There was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded.”

National security and intelligence falls under the portfolio of president Maithripala Sirisena, and tensions between him and prime minister Wickremesinghe are high. In October last year, Sirisena attempted to sack Wickremesinghe as prime minster, triggering a constitutional crisis.

“This is the only country where when the prime minister summons the security council they don’t assemble,” Seranatne said. “Despite these revelations about security, we couldn’t avert these attacks.”

“We are not trying to evade responsibility but these are the facts. We were surprised to see these reports.”

Authorities were warned on April 4

Sri Lankan cabinet spokesman, Rajitha Senaratne, is addressing media in Colombo.

“On the 4th of April, 14 days before these incidents occurred we had been informed about these incidents,” he says.

Earlier, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had said police had been warned at least ten days ago.

“On the 9th of April, the chief of national intelligence wrote a letter and in this letter many of the names of the members of the terrorist organisation were written down,” Senaratne said. “The prime minister was not informed by these letters and revelations”.

Earlier, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they had not received any reports of any Australians killed.

At 4.40pm in Melbourne, Morrison held a snap press conference to announce the government had received new information.

“We have further information that has come through from our post, sadly two Australians have been killed as part of these terror attacks,” he said.

“[They were] members of the same family. They were living in Sri Lanka at the time.”

Two other Australians were injured, Morrison said. One is a woman in her mid-50s and the other a woman in her mid-to-late-20s. Both are in a stable condition. One is being treated for shrapnel wounds, and one is being treated for a broken leg.

Morrison said one of the deceased, and both injured women, were dual nationals. The two deceased were “living in Sri Lanka with their families”, Morrison said. “It’s just a terribly sad day”.

Updated

Two Australians have died

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has told media that two Australians have died.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry has confirmed at least 37 foreign citizens are among the dead. Three Indian citizens, three British and two Turkish citizens were confirmed by the department, AFP reports. There are also 25 unidentified bodies “believed to be of foreigners,” the ministry said.

Updated

The US state department has warned travellers to “exercise increased caution” in their latest travel advisory, saying “terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka.”

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs [and] markets”, it says.

The UK foreign office says “terrorists are likely to carry out attacks in Sri Lanka” in their latest advice.

The UN secretary-general has issued a statement of solidarity with Sri Lanka

Summary

  • At least 290 people have been killed and 500 injured by a series of eight explosions targeting churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday night.
  • 24 people have been arrested, and the defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene said the culprits were religious extremists, but no group has yet claimed responsibility.
  • The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said security services had been “aware of information” of a possible attack up to 10 days ago, and said the government “must look into why adequate precautions were not taken”.
  • Most of the dead are believed to have been Sri Lankans, but roughly 30 foreign citizen have been confirmed killed, including five Britons, three Indians and one Japanese citizen, and others.
  • The government has shut down social media and messaging services to prevent the spread of misinformation.
  • The coordinated attacks began with seven initial explosions – at four hotels and three churches – with another explosion later detonated while suspects fled from police.
  • Defence minister Wijewardene said suicide bombers were responsible for the majority of the bombings
  • World leaders including Narendra Modi, Imran Khan, Jacinda Ardern, Theresa May, Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Vladimir Putin condemned the attacks.

Updated

Gunasekera declined to state which of the attacks on three churches and four hotels had proved the most deadly, and declined to give more detail about the 24 people now arrested.

Updated

24 arrested

The number of arrests has also doubled, in the latest statement from police.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said 24 people had now been arrested in connection with the attacks, according to AFP.

Death toll rises to 290

290 people have been confirmed dead, according to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera.

500 people were also wounded, according to the figures provided to both Reuters and AFP. On Sunday night, the death toll was at 207.

Updated

13 arrested by police

Late Sunday night, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said a total of 13 suspects had now been arrested. A police source told AFP the 13 men were detained at two locations in and around Colombo, and that the suspects were all from the same radical group.

No group has yet claimed direct responsibility for the attacks. Previously, police said eight had been arrested.

In a statement, Gunasekara said police had seized a van and driver they suspected transported the suspects into Colombo and also raided a safe house used by the attackers. Three police officers were among the dead when the eighth suicide bomb blast went off during a police raid on a housing complex in Colombo during the hunt for the attackers.

From earlier, some footage of the lines at Colombo airport during the overnight curfew

An improvised explosive was defused last night near Colombo airport, police have confirmed.

The bomb was discovered and made safe hours ago, late on Sunday night, but police this morning have provided further details.

One source told AFP it was “a homemade bomb”. Airforce spokesperson Gihan Seneviratne said it was locally made, and described it as “a crude six-foot pipe bomb that was found by the roadside”.

Updated

A Japanese national is among the people killed in Sunday’s terrorist attacks, the government has confirmed. The victim, who has not been identified, is thought to have been a resident of Colombo and died in hospital after suffering serious injuries, the Kyodo news agency said.

The Japanese government has sent officials to Sri Lanka to gather information about the victims. The foreign minister, Taro Kono, told reporters Monday that Japan had notified the Sri Lankan government of its readiness to help.

In an earlier message to his Sri Lankan counterpart, Kono said: “I would like to offer my prayers for the victims of the attacks, as well as my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and my sympathies to the wounded.”

Kono voiced Japan’s “sincere solidarity with Sri Lankan people”, adding that it was “firmly committed to combating terrorism in cooperation with Sri Lanka and the international community”.

The Indian high commission in Sri Lanka has confirmed the names of two victims.

As of last night, three Indian nationals were known to have died.

Updated

One Japanese national has been confirmed killed, according to the Associated Press. At least four Japanese citizens were wounded.

Chaos at airports, but buses and trains are back to normal now the curfew is over.

Updated

Late last night, Sri Lanka’s telecommunications minister, Harin Fernando, tweeted out photos of the memo from intelligence agencies – dated 11 April – warning of attacks.

Updated

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed one Australian was injured.

A statement said: “DFAT has not received any reports of Australian fatalities. DFAT has offered consular assistance to one Australian injured in the attacks.

“Australia stands in solidarity with the government and the people of Sri Lanka against these barbaric acts, and is ready to offer whatever assistance is required.”

Updated

Sri Lanka’s countrywide curfew will be lifted in 15 minutes (6am local time). Authorities declared the curfew last night, imposing a ban on movement.

Updated

One of the first victims to have been identified last night was Sri Lankan celebrity chef Shantha Mayadunne.

Mayadunne and her daughter Nisanga had posted a photo online of their family having breakfast in the Shangri-La hotel shortly before the attack.

Identification has been slowed by the government’s social media shutdown, but of the foreign nationals, five Britons, three Indians, three Danes, two Turks and two Chinese nationals have been confirmed killed.

Indian actor Radikaa Sarathkumar tweeted that she had narrowly escaped the attack, and had been in the Cinnamon Grand hotel moments before the blast.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said on Sunday night security services had been “aware of information” of a possible attack. Local intelligence had received warnings 10 days ago that “prominent churches” could be the target of suicide bombers.

“We must also look into why adequate precautions were not taken,” Wickremesinghe told reporters on Sunday.

Sri Lanka’s security forces fall under the responsibility of President Maithripala Sirisena and tensions are high between the two leaders. In October last year, Sirisena attempted to sack Wickremesinghe as prime minster, triggering a constitutional crisis.

Updated

Tulip Siddiq, the British Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn has tweeted that she lost a relative in yesterday’s attacks.

One Australian could be wounded, but none have been killed, according to the latest statement from Australia’s trade minister, Simon Birmingham.

He told ABC Radio National on Monday morning: “We are not aware of any Australian loss of life. I understand there may be an Australian injured but I’m awaiting further details on that.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the beautiful people of Sri Lanka for this terrible, terrible incident.”

Updated

What we know so far

A wave of bombings has rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. Here is what we know so far:

  • At least 207 people have been killed and 450 more injured in a series of explosions targeting churches holding Easter services and hotels in Sri Lanka.
  • Most of the dead are believed to have been Sri Lankans, but officials say about 30 people from other countries have lost their lives. Three UK nationals and two US-UK dual nationals were among the dead. One Dutch, one Chinese, one Portuguese and two Turkish nationals have been killed, their respective foreign ministries have confirmed.
  • No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but Sri Lanka’s defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, said the culprits had been identified and were religious extremists. He said suicide bombers were responsible for the majority of the morning’s bombings and that the wave of attacks was the work of a single group.
  • Eight people have been reported to have been arrested so far.
  • The government has imposed a curfew with immediate effect. It also shut down social media and messaging services.
  • There were six initial blasts, at three hotels and three churches, before two more explosions some time later, at a guest house and housing scheme, with two people reported to have been killed at the former.
  • Harsha de Silva, a government minister, said the last two blasts appeared to have been carried out by the culprits as they fled from police.
  • The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned the “cowardly” attacks and urged people to remain “united and strong”. He convened Sri Lanka’s top military officials at an emergency meeting of the national security council.
  • The archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, called it “a very sad day” and urged the government to identify the attackers and “punish them mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”.
  • World leaders including Narendra Modi, Imran Khan, Theresa May, Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Vladimir Putin condemned the attacks and expressed their sympathies to the victims. May called the violence “truly appalling” and said that “no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear”.

Our latest report is here:

Updated

Summary

At least 207 people have been killed and 405 injured in a series of explosions, most of which believed to have resulted from suicide bombings which targeted churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

Most of those killed were locals but 36 foreigners are believed to have been killed following the attacks, which no group has yet claimed responsibility for although there have now reportedly been 13 arrests follow a police raid.

The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, acknowledged that “information was there” about the prospect of possible terrorist attacks, saying that investigations will take place into “why adequate precautions were not taken” while the government attempts to apprehend the perpetrators.

There were six initial blasts, at three hotels and three churches, before two more explosions some time later. One was during the police raid and the other was at a guest house.

The Sri Lankan government has imposed an indefinite curfew and shut down social media and messaging services amid fears over the spread of misinformation and the incitement of racial disharmony.

This is what we know so far:

Updated

There have been no reports of Canadian citizens having been affected by events in Sri Lanka, the country’s prime minister Justin Trudeau has announced as he condemned the terrorist attacks

I was shocked and saddened to hear of the devastating terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, which have claimed the lives of more than two hundred people and injured many hundreds more. On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I offer my heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and my hope for a full recovery to those injured.

Canada strongly condemns these heinous attacks on hotels and Christians at prayer in churches. Places of worship are sacred, where all should feel safe and secure. No one should be targeted because of their faith.

For millions of people around the world, Easter is a time to reflect on Jesus’ message of compassion and kindness—a time to come together with friends and family. We cannot let attacks like these weaken the hope we share.

To the people of Sri Lanka and other communities affected by today’s attacks: Canada stands with you. We will continue to work with you and other international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism and to promote greater peace and stability around the world.

To date, we have no reports of any Canadian citizens being affected. Due to the current situation, our High Commission in Colombo will be closed on April 22. However, Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact sos@international.gc.ca or call +1 613 996 8885.

Real Madrid held a minute’s silence before the kick-off of their game with Athletico Bilbao earlier today for the victims of the attacks.

Updated

There have now been 13 people arrested in connection to the bombings, the BBC’s Azzam Ameen has reported.

The Foreign Office has confirmed that British nationals were among those killed.

“We can confirm that British nationals were among those killed in today’s horrific attacks in Sri Lanka,” a spokesman said.

“Our staff are supporting the relatives of the victims and are continuing to work with the relevant authorities to obtain further information. We extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.”

Updated

We have more reaction from figures in the UK.

The foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, called the attacks “horrifying”, saying “to target those gathered for worship on Easter Sunday is particularly wicked”.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said: “I’m appalled by the horrific attacks in Sri Lanka, on Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian calendar. I stand with the victims, their families, the people of Sri Lanka and Christians around the world. We must defeat this hatred with unity, love and respect.”

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “On this holy day, let us stand with the people of Sri Lanka in prayer, condolence and solidarity as we reject all violence, all hatred and all division.”

Updated

The secretary general of the world’s largest organisation of Muslim nations has condemned the Easter Sunday attacks that killed more than 200 people

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s chief, Yousef al-Othaimeen, described them as “cowardly attacks” that targeted innocent worshippers and civilians. Fifty-seven nations are part of the OIC, which is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia also denounced the six nearly simultaneous attacks and described them as “terrorist explosions”, saying the kingdom extended its condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Sri Lanka.

Updated

Here is Facebook’s statement in full, after Sri Lankan authorities blocked access to social media sites.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this horrendous act. Teams from across Facebook have been working to support first responders and law enforcement as well as to identify and remove content which violates our standards,” a spokesperson said.

“We are aware of the government’s statement regarding the temporary blocking of social media platforms. People rely on our services to communicate with their loved ones and we are committed to maintaining our services and helping the community and the country during this tragic time.”

Updated

Eight arrests in connection with attacks so far, PM confirms

After confirming eight arrests in relation to the bomb attacks, Wickremesinghe appealed for calm.

The defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, has urged the media to refrain from publishing the names of the attackers, citing fears that it could inflame tensions between communities.

Updated

25 killed foreigners remain unidentified, say authorities

The Sri Lankan foreign ministry has issued a further statement with more detail on the number of foreigners caught up in the attack.

Eleven are confirmed dead, with nine reported missing, and 25 unidentified people believed to be foreigners remain at the Colombo judicial medical officer’s mortuary.

Nineteen foreign nationals have been hospitalised and are at Colombo’s national hospital, according to the ministry.

“Following the explosions that took place in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, earlier today, the number of foreign nationals who have been identified as deceased at the National hospital in Colombo stands at eleven,” the statement read.

Of the confirmed fatalities, three are Indian, three are from the UK, two hold US and UK nationalities, two are from Turkey and one is from Portugal.

Denmark’s foreign ministry has said three Danish citizens were also among those killed.

Updated

My colleague Hannah Ellis-Peterson, the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, has this report on the blocking of social media sites in an effort to stop misinformation spreading.

Updated

“We stand with the Sri Lankan government and people as they confront violent extremism,” says the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, as he condemns the attacks and confirms several Americans are among those killed.

The Sri Lankan foreign ministry earlier announced that two US-UK dual nationals are among the dead. It is not clear if by several, Pompeo is suggesting more than two American citizens have been killed.

Updated

'Information was there' about possible attacks, says PM

We now have more from Wickremesinghe’s press conference.

“So far the names that have come up are local,” but investigators will look into whether the attackers had any “overseas links”, he told reporters.

He also acknowledged that “information was there” about possible attacks. “While this goes on we must also look into why adequate precautions were not taken.”

However, he stressed the government’s first priority would be to “apprehend the terrorists.”

“First and foremost we have to ensure that terrorism does not lift its head in Sri Lanka.”

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe speaks during a press conference in Colombo on April 21, 2019.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe speaks during a press conference in Colombo on April 21, 2019. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

The Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, says that there was information circulating regarding a possible attack, but he was not privy to it and cabinet was not briefed.

He added that adequate precautions were not taken to prevent the attack, and government will investigate why law enforcement authorities did not take precautions.

Minister for national integration Mano Ganesan says officers were warned a week ago suicide bombers in Colombo could target politicians.

Updated

Good afternoon, I’m Mattha Busby, taking over from my colleague Haroon Siddique.

Radikaa Sarathkumar, an Indian actor, said she was in the Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo moments before it was hit with a bomb attack.

Updated

What we know so far

  • At least 207 people have been killed and 450 injured in a series of explosions targeting churches holding Easter services and hotels. Most of the explosions are believed to have resulted from suicide bombings.
  • Most of the dead were locals but 36 foreigners are believed to have been killed. Five British citizens have been confirmed to have lost their lives (including two who also hold US citizenship), as well as three people from India, one from Portugal and two from Turkey. The Dutch foreign minister said one of the country’s citizens was also killed. Britons were among the injured, the British high commissioner to Sri Lanka said.
  • No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but several arrests have been made and Sri Lanka’s defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, said the culprits were religious extremists. He said seven people had been apprehended, while a police spokesman said three had been arrested with others questioned.
  • The arrests were made as police raided a housing complex in in the Dematagoda neighbourhood of Colombo, three hours after the initial six blasts. Another blast occurred during the operation killing three police officers.
  • The government imposed a curfew of indefinite duration and also shut down social media and messaging services. Schools will not reopen until Wednesday at the earliest.
  • Before shutting down social media, government ministers urged people not to foster “racial disharmony”. In recent years, social media has been used in Sri Lanka to spread rumours about minorities, inciting violence.
  • There were six initial blasts, at three hotels and three churches, before two more explosions some time later. One was during the police raid and the other was at a guest house.
  • The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned the “cowardly” attacks and urged people to remain “united and strong”. He convened Sri Lanka‘s top military officials at an emergency meeting of the national security council.
  • The archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith, called it “a very sad day” and urged the government to identify the attackers and “punish them mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”.
  • There has been condemnation of the attacks from around the world, including from Narendra Modi, Imran Khan, Theresa May and Donald Trump. May called the violence “truly appalling” and said that “no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear”.
  • Pope Francis denounced the “cruel violence” of the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and said he would pray for all those affected. He added his condemnation at the end of his traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St Peter’s Square.

Barack Obama has denounced the attacks as “an attack on humanity”.

Here is some background on Sri Lanka’s recent past:

Sri Lanka’s coastline of white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, coupled with its abundant flora and fauna can give it the appearance of an island paradise.

But the country has a troubled recent past, emerging only 10 years ago from a bloody civil war that killed as many as 100,000 people.

The conflict between government forces and separatist Tamil Tigers rebels raged for 26 years. Since the end of the war, the former British colony (then known as Ceylon) has been attempting to get back onto its feet, with some success.

The number of tourists was 448,000 in 2009 but has quadrupled to more than two million a year, reflecting diminishing safety concerns.

But tensions have remained between the different ethnic and religious groups that make up the 21.4 million people on the island.

The end of the war came about as a result of a 2009 government offensive, believed to have killed up to 40,000 Tamils in the last few months alone. The government was made up of members of Sinhalese Buddhist majority who account for 70% of the population, while Tamils are mainly Hindu (13% of the island’s inhabitants are Hindu).

In March, the UN human rights chief warned Sri Lanka could slip back into conflict unless it addressed the “worst crimes” during the final stages of the conflict.

Another problem has been the flare up of tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Muslims, who make up 10% of the population.

Last year, anti-Muslim violence flared across the hills of central Sri Lanka, fed by social media rumours about attacks on Buddhists. Mobs of Buddhists swept through small towns, attacking mosques and Muslim-owned shops.

The government briefly declared a state of emergency and ordered popular social media networks to be temporarily blocked to prevent the violence from spreading.

Such recent conflagrations explains why, after Sunday’s attacks, ministers were so keen to urge people to refrain from expressing sentiments that could cause “racial disharmony” and have once again shut down social media.

The British ruled Ceylon, previously controlled by the Dutch and Portuguese from 1815 until independence in 1948.

Here’s the Guardian’s story on the British casualties:

The Sri Lankan ministry of foreign affairs listed the known nationalities of foreigners killed as three from India, one from Portugal, two from Turkey, three from the UK and two holding US and UK nationality.

It said that there were a further 25 unidentified bodies believed to be foreigners at the Colombo judicial medical officer’s mortuary.

Additionally, 19 foreign nationals are receiving treatment in hospital.

The emergency hotline to assist families of affected foreign nationals is +94 112323015.

Updated

At least five British citizens killed

The Sri Lankan ministry of foreign affairs says at least five British citizens (two who hold dual US and UK citizenship) were killed in the attacks.

In the aftermath of a series of bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on Sunday, the government said it was blocking social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram until security forces completed their investigations.

The ability of misinformation online to stoke more violence has been high on Sri Lankan authorities’ minds, with government ministers among those cautioning the public against apportioning blame for the attacks on social media.

These concerns are more acute after social media-fueled violence spread around the country last year, said Sanjana Hattotuwa, a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, who studies social media in Sri Lanka. A social media blackout then had limited success in quelling the unrest, he said.

Of the motives for the ban, he said:

There’s an abundance of caution. The effectiveness of course I can’t say … The situation is fluid and very volatile. What we find is that communities are being targeted for the action of individuals. Given that it’s now in the public domain that these were suicide bombings involved, a particular community is going to get targeted.

Updated

A Sri Lankan news outlet reports that the driver of a van believed to have been used to transport bombs used in today’s attacks has been apprehended.

Updated

AP has some more details on the churches and hotels which were targeted in Sri Lanka:

Churches

St. Anthony’s Shrine: This Roman Catholic church, located in the Kochchikade suburb of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, is one of the country’s best-known churches. Its roots reach back to the 18th century Dutch colonial period, when Catholicism was forbidden and priests would often hold services in secret. Local beliefs say the church’s founder, disguised as a merchant, helped a seaside fishing community by praying to stop the sea from eroding their village. The church was later built near the site.

St. Sebastian’s church: This Catholic church is in Negombo, a largely Catholic town north of Colombo. Built in the Gothic style, it was patterned on Reims Cathedral in France and was completed in the 1940s.

Zion church: This church is in the eastern coastal city of Batticaloa. It was founded in the 1970s.

Hotels

The Shangri-La hotel: This towering, luxurious hotel is located near Colombo’s main business district and is just a few steps from the sea. It has 500 guest rooms and suites and 41 serviced apartments.

The Kingsbury Colombo hotel: This luxury hotel is located in Colombo’s city centre, just a few minutes’ walk from the Shangri-La. It has 229 rooms.

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo hotel: This hotel is located about a mile (2km) from the Kingsbury and near the sea in a bustling business district. It has 483 rooms and 18 suites.

Police and locals inspect the damage and fataliaties in Katuwapitiya St Sebastian church in Negombo
Police and locals inspect the damage and fataliaties in Katuwapitiya St Sebastian church in Negombo Photograph: STR/EPA

Updated

A Sri Lankan news network reports at least eight nationalities among the foreign victims, citing a hospitals spokesperson.

Two Turkish citizens were among the more than 200 people killed in bomb blasts at three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka on Sunday, reports Reuters, citing Turkey’s state media, Anadolu.

Anadolu said the Turks were engineers working on a project in Sri Lanka.

Updated

Sri Lanka’s minister of finance says that the country’s different communities have been pulling together in the wake of the attacks.

The British high commissioner to Sri Lanka has confirmed that Britons were among those caught up in the attacks.

There is a suggestion there could be further casualties at the site of the Dematagoda raid, in which three police officers hunting the perpetrators of today’s attacks were killed by an explosion and a number of people arrested.

Updated

Police say they have arrested three people so far. The government put the figure at seven earlier but police say several others have been arrested but not questioned. They remain in the dark as to the perpetrators and their motive, they say.

Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese nationals among the dead

Stef Blok, the Dutch foreign minister, has confirmed that a Dutch national was among the fatalities in the Easter Sunday attacks.

Meanwhile, the People’s Daily in China has reported that one Chinese national died in the attack and four are in a stable condition in hospital after sustaining injuries.

Portugal’s ministry of foreign affairs said that one victim was a Portuguese citizen.

Updated

Social media blackout in Sri Lanka to stop fake news

The president’s office has confirmed that Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites have been temporarily blocked in Sri Lanka, according to a state news portal, underlining that the blackout will continue as long as necessary for security forces to conclude their investigations into the attacks.

It said the decision was prompted by the spread of misinformation on those sites.

Updated

207 dead, say police

Just minutes after the government said the death toll had risen to 190, the police have said 207 people have been killed and 450 injured.

The three police officers killed in Dematagoda (where the eighth explosion took place) died while raiding a block of flats in pursuit of the attackers, the government has said.

Updated

The archbishop of Colombo has urged Sri Lankans not to “take the law into their own hands”.

The government said that the explosions appear to have been as a result of suicide bombings carried out by one group.

Seven arrested as death toll grows

The defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, says seven people have been arrested in connection with the attacks. He says at least 190 people have been killed, including 27 foreigners.

(This post was amended as it was initially reported he said the death toll had risen to 160)

Updated

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the leader of the Sri Lankan opposition and the country’s former president, has called the attacks “barbaric”, especially “on such a holy day”.

Updated

Mangala Samaraweera, the country’s finance minister, said the attacks were an attempt to drag Sri Lanka back to the darkest days of its brutal civil war.

He said the bombings were “a diabolic attempt to create racial and religious tensions in this country yet again, thereby pulling the country backwards just as we as a country – economically, socially and otherwise – are recovering from the protracted war which destroyed the fabric of our nation for nearly 30 years”.

He continued:

The bombings are not the doings of a fanatical individual. It’s obviously a highly coordinated attempt to create murder, mayhem and anarchy in the country.

Colombo’s archbishop, Malcolm Ranjith, warned against vigilantism amid concern about heightened religious tension in the aftermath of the attack.

Updated

The Sri Lankan government’s official news portal says schools will remain closed until Wednesday and all police leave has been cancelled.

Sri Lankan media also report that universities are closed and exams postponed.

Updated

Arrests reported

The BBC’s Azzam Ameen says there have been police reports of some arrests – the first so far – in connection with the attacks.

Updated

The president of the US has expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to the people of Sri Lanka, although, as so often with Donald Trump, his tweet will no doubt generate headlines for the typo it contains - a shame given today’s terrible events.

Updated

A Reuters journalist in Colombo says that three police officers were killed by the eighth explosion, at a block of flats in Dematagoda.

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned the “heinous acts” and offered solidarity to the Sri Lankan people.

Sri Lankan Airlines has said passengers due to fly will be allowed to travel to the airport by security forces, provided they show their tickets and passports at checkpoints.

Here are more images showing the aftermath of the deadly explosions:

Sri Lankan security personnel walk through debris following the explosion in St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo
Sri Lankan security personnel walk through debris following the explosion in St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. Photograph: STR/AFP/Getty Images
A statue of Virgin Mary broken in two parts is seen in front of the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade church
A statue of theVirgin Mary broken in two parts is seen in front of the St Anthony’s shrine, Kochchikade church. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Updated

Pope Francis denounced the “cruel violence” of the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka and said he would pray for all those affected, AP reports.

Francis added an appeal at the end of his traditional Easter Sunday blessing to address the massacre which killed more than 130 people.

Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis said: “I want to express my loving closeness to the Christian community, targeted while they were gathered in prayer, and all the victims of such cruel violence.”

He added: “I entrust to the Lord all those who were tragically killed and pray for the injured and all those who are suffering as a result of this dramatic event.”

Pope Francis, delivers his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (‘to the city and the world’) message, in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican
Pope Francis, delivers his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (‘to the city and the world’) message, in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican Photograph: Andrew Medichini/AP

Updated

More European leaders have condemned the attacks and offered their sympathies to the victims. Those to have voiced solidarity include the European Council president, the president of the EU commission and the prime ministers of Finland and Denmark.

Updated

Pope Francis offered prayers for the victims of the atrocities in Sri Lanka at the conclusion of his Easter speech, the BBC reported, although he did not mention the terrible events during his address.

What we know so far:

  • At least 138 people have been reported to be killed and hundreds more injured in a series of explosions targeting churches holding Easter services and hotels in Sri Lanka. AFP put the death toll at 156.
  • Most of the dead are believed to have been locals, with the BBC putting the number of foreigners killed at nine, and AFP reporting that 35 people from other countries have lost their lives. The Guardian understands that British tourists are feared to be among those killed.
  • No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but Sri Lanka’s defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, said the culprits had been identified and were religious extremists. An official told the Associated Press that two blasts were suspected to have been the work of suicide bombers.
  • The government has imposed a curfew with immediate effect. It also shut down social media and messaging services.
  • There were six initial blasts, at three hotels and three churches, before two more explosions some time later, at a guest house and housing scheme, with two people reported to have been killed at the former. Harsha de Silva, a government minister, said the last two blasts appeared to have been carried out by the culprits as they fled from police.
  • The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, condemned the “cowardly” attacks and urged people to remain “united and strong”. He convened Sri Lanka‘s top military officials at an emergency meeting of the national security council.
  • The archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith, called it “a very sad day” and urged the government to identify the attackers and “punish them mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”.
  • World leaders including Narendra Modi, Imran Khan, Theresa May, Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Vladimir Putin condemned the attacks and expressed their sympathies to the victims. May called the violence “truly appalling” and said that “no one should ever have to practise their faith in fear”.

Updated

Britons feared to be among the dead

British tourists are feared to be among the foreign nationals killed in the Easter Sunday bombings across Sri Lanka, the Guardian understands.

Tourism from the UK to Sri Lanka has surged in recent years, with more than 250,000 visits by British holidaymakers in 2018, according to the high commission in London. The embassy has set up an emergency hotline on 07917 382486 for families and friends concerned about a loved one in Sri Lanka.


The UK Foreign Office has advised holidaymakers in Sri Lanka to get in contact with their families and family to let them know that they are safe. The latest travel advice to Sri Lanka can be found here.

Updated

Curfew imposed with immediate effect

The curfew that was to have begun at 6pm has now been imposed with immediate effect.

Updated

This map shows the locations of the eight blasts reported so far:

Locations map

Another Sri Lankan minister says the two latest attacks (number seven and eight), which occurred sometime after the initial six, appeared to have been carried out by the culprits as they fled from police.

Updated

'Culprits identified'

Sri Lanka’s defence and military officials have decided to impose a curfew “just until things settle down,” according to the state minister of defence, Ruwan Wijewardene, saying investigators have identified the culprits.

He suggested the attacks, which he described as a “terrorist” incident, were the work of religious extremists.

Wijewardene said:

We have taken all the necessary precautions to keep this country safe and the people safe. We believe that all the culprits who have been involved in this unfortunate terrorist incident will be taken into custody as soon as possible. They have been identified, and they will be taken into custody as soon as possible.

Updated

The advice for British citizens in Sri Lanka has been updated by the UK Foreign Office.

It says:

If you are in Sri Lanka, please follow the advice of local security authorities, hotel security staff or your tour company. You should avoid large gatherings. If you are in Sri Lanka and you are safe, we advise that you contact family and friends to let them know that you are safe.

Sri Lankan Airlines has advised people to arrive at the airport early. This advice was issued before the curfew was announced, which will start in just under three hours.

Updated

As well as announcing a curfew, the Sri Lankan government has shut down access to social media and messaging services, Reuters reports.

Updated

Curfew imposed

As attacks continue, the Sri Lankan government is taking no chances and has imposed a curfew that will begin at 6pm and end at 6am tomorrow morning.

It’s just coming up to 3pm in Sri Lanka now so that gives people three hours to get home.

The latest blast is reported to have been at a housing scheme.

Eighth explosion reported

Media are reporting yet another blast.

Sri Lanka’s minister of economic reforms and public distribution, Harsha de Silva, has warned people against fomenting “racial disharmony” on social media.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has mourned “the loss of innocent lives due to extremist and violent elements who wish to create divides between religious and ethnic groups”.

Updated

The UK prime minister, Theresa May, and the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, have both condemned the attacks.

The British high commissioner says he was at an Easter service that was cut short as a result of the blasts.

The French embassy has told its citizens to avoid public places.

By contrast to the other three hotels hit by explosions, which were all luxury establishments, the target of the latest explosion appears to have been a much more modest guesthouse.

AFP is reporting two dead in the most recent explosion.

Reuters is also reporting the explosion in Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, citing police.

Updated

Seventh explosion reported

This is deeply worrying. A BBC reporter in Colombo is reporting a blast at another hotel.

Updated

These photographs starkly illustrate the devastation wreaked by the attacks.

Locals and police gather at the Secon church, Batticalova central road in Colombo.
Locals and police gather at the Secon church, Batticalova central road in Colombo Photograph: MA Pushpa Kumara/EPA
The scene at the Secon church
The scene at the Secon church. Photograph: MA Pushpa Kumara/EPA
One of the blast victims is brought to a hospital in Colombo
One of the blast victims is brought to a hospital in Colombo. Photograph: MA Pushpa Kumara/EPA

Updated

The archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Ranjith, said:

It’s a very very sad day for all of us. I wish therefore to express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to all of those innocent families who have lost someone and also to all those who have been injured and rendered destitute ...

I condemn to the utmost of my capacity this act that has caused so much death and suffering to the people.

He urged the government to identify the attackers and “punish them mercilessly because only animals can behave like that”.

Updated

The National Blood Bank has reportedly been overwhelmed by people wanting to donate.

Azzam Ameen, a BBC reporter in Colombo, said a government minister told him “they have no clue” who was behind the attacks and had no intelligence that such an attack was imminent.

Ameen said that at present the country’s intelligence agencies are just “guessing” that an international organisation or religious organisation could be behind it.

He said rumours had been circulating about the prospect of further attacks and thousands of police had been deployed on to the streets of the country to stand guard.

Relatives of people killed in church blasts mourn as they wait outside the mortuary of a hospital in Colombo
Relatives of people killed in church blasts mourn as they wait outside the mortuary of a hospital in Colombo Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP

Updated

The respective prime ministers of India and Pakistan are among the world leaders who have condemned the attacks.

Journalist Zahrah Imtiaz reports that people are flocking to give blood to help the injured.

Death toll rises to 156 - AFP

The AFP news agency is reporting that 156 people have been killed, including 35 foreigners, citing police sources.

Updated

These images are of the Shangri-La hotel, one of three luxury hotels struck by the attackers.

Sri Lankan police stand at the site of the explosion at the luxury Shangri-La hotel in Colombo.
Sri Lankan police stand at the site of the explosion at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images
Sri Lankan police stand at the Shangri-La Hotel
Sri Lankan police at the Shangri-La hotel. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

The speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament has condemned the attacks as striking at “the whole Sri Lankan nation, bound together by friendship and brotherhood”.

Pictures are emerging of the damage to the churches in Sri Lanka.

This image made from video provided by Hiru TV shows damage inside a church after a blast in Colombo.
This image made from video provided by Hiru TV shows damage inside a church after a blast in Colombo. Photograph: AP

Updated

Leaders have called for calm.

Sri Lanka’s president, Maithripala Sirisena, said in an address that he was shocked by the explosions and appealed for calm. The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, wrote on Twitter: “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today.

“I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation.”

Updated

Death toll rises

News agencies are now reporting that more than 100 people have been killed in the church and hotel bombings. Police sources told AFP they believed the figure was 137. According to AFP, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said at least 45 people had been killed in Colombo, where three hotels and a church were hit. Another 67 were killed in an attack on a church in Negombo, north of the capital, with a further 25 dead at a church in the town of Batticaloa, in the east of the country.

It’s still unclear what caused the blasts and there have so far been no claims of responsibility.

Updated

The prime minister has met with senior military personnel. We are expecting an official statement on the incident to be issued soon. In the meantime, Harsha de Silva (minister quoted below) has called for calm and for people to “act responsibly”.

Updated

Sri Lanka’s minister of economic reforms and public distribution, Harsha de Silva, has visited the Kochchikade church and reports devastating scenes.

Updated

Extensive damage to churches:

Images of the damage are emerging on Twitter. This tweet is from Geeta Mohan, foreign affairs editor at India Today TV network.

Updated

Three churches hit by explosions

It’s understood that the three churches hit by blasts are St Anthony’s Church in the capital, St Sebastian’s in Katuwapitiya, north of Colombo, and local media has also reported a church in Batticaloa in Eastern Province was hit.

At least 50 people have been killed in explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka
Dozens die in explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

Updated

Three Colombo hotels hit

Reuters news agency is reporting that the three hotels hit in the capital Colombo, were the Shangri-La, Kingsbury Hotel and Cinnamon Grand.

Updated

PM calls national security meeting:

The Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has called a national security council meeting at his home later in the day.

Updated

Sri Lanka blasts kill at least 50

At least 50 people are now believed to have died in the church and hotel bombings.

As the blasts took place in six different places, getting an accurate figure of casualties is challenging.

A police official speaking to AFP believed at least 42 people were killed in the Colombo blasts. The Reuters news agency is saying more than 50 were killed in one of the church blasts outside the capital alone.

We are waiting on official updates.

Updated

The first explosions were reported at St Anthony’s Shrine, a church in Colombo and St Sebastian’s Church in the town of Negombo just outside the capital. It’s believed dozens of people from the St Anthony’s blast were taken to the Colombo National Hospital.

Details of the blasts are still somewhat confused. An offical at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel near the prime minister’s official residence in Colombo, told the news agency Agence France-Presse that a blast had ripped through the hotel restaurant, adding that one person had been killed.

Updated

Explosions in Sri Lanka kill dozens

Dozens of people have died and hundreds have been injured in what is believed to be six separate explosions at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

It’s believed at least two of the hotels and one of the churches are in the capital, Colombo. Another church is in Negombo, north of Colombo. According to the Reuters news agency, Sri Lankan police are saying more than 50 people were killed in this blast.

Our full report is here:

This is a developing news story and we will bring you developments as they unfold.

Updated

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