Sri Lanka bombings: Death toll rises to 290

Sri Lanka is reeling from the worst spate of violence since its civil war ended a decade ago. A series of bomb attacks on Sunday at hotels and churches across the country killed hundreds and injured many more.

A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka April 21, 2019 (Reuters/D. Liyanawatte)

The number of people killed in Sunday’s bomb attacks across Sri Lanka has risen to 290 and the number of wounded to more than 500, police said Monday.

The nine attacks, which targeted Christian churches and hotels popular with foreigners, amounted to the deadliest violence to hit Sri Lanka since a civil war ended 10 years ago.

No one has yet claimed responsibility, but police said they had arrested 13 Sri Lankan citizens in connection with the blasts.

Read more: How the Sri Lanka attacks unfolded

Curfew lifted

Earlier on Monday, authorities lifted an overnight curfew and said that they had defused an improved bomb at the international airport in the capital, Colombo.

Officials will look into possible intelligence failures, the government said, amid reports that security services ignored warnings of an imminent attack against churches.

At least 27 foreigners, including citizens from the United States, Japan and India, died in the blasts.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry said it was “working urgently” to find out if any German citizens were killed or wounded.


Source: https://www.dw.com/en/sri-lanka-bombings-death-toll-rises-to-290/a-48429200

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