Summary

  • Eight blasts hit locations including churches and hotels across Sri Lanka, leaving at least 290 people dead and 500 injured

  • Congregations were taking part in Easter Sunday services at the churches when the blasts hit

  • The five-star Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the heart of Colombo were targeted

  • A local group named as National Thowheed Jamath are believed to be behind the attack

  • Officials say 24 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks

  1. 'The roof fell on us'published at 12:44 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Sylvester, who was at the service at St Anthony's Shrine in the Kochchikade district of Colombo, has told the BBC what he saw:

    "I heard the explosion and then the roof fell on us. We took the children and ran out from the rear door.

    "But when I came to the hospital I saw my brother-in-law and son on the ground."

  2. One Chinese national killed - People's Dailypublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Chinese state newspaper People's Daily reports that a Chinese national was among the tourists killed in today's attacks.

    Earlier, state news agency Xinhua said that four Chinese people had been injured in the blasts, but were in a stable condition.

    It's believed at least nine foreign nationals were among those killed in Colombo.

  3. Sri Lankan special forces raid propertiespublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Sri Lankan Special Task ForceImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    A member of the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) pictured outside a house during a raid

    Sri Lankan Special Task ForceImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The STF were searching near the Dematagoda area of the capital Colombo

    STFImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    An explosion has been reported in the district, the eight across the country

  4. Seven suspects heldpublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    BBC Sinhala reporter Azzam Ameen is reporting that two suspects have been detained in the Dematagoda area of Colombo and seven suspects arrested in total.

    He quotes Sri Lanka's defence minister as saying most of the blasts were suicide attacks carried out by one group.

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  5. Trump sends condolencespublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    The US president says his country is ready to help Sri Lanka.

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  6. Cricket stars express shockpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Well-known cricketers have been reacting to the attacks.

    Dasun Shanaka said his grandmother had been operated on following the explosion at one of the churches.

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    Former national team captain Kumar Sangakkara said he was "shocked and saddened" by the "despicable acts of barbarism".

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    Indian national team captain Virat Kohli has also sent condolences.

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  7. Death toll rises to 160published at 12:23 British Summer Time 21 April 2019
    Breaking

    Sri Lanka's prime minister's office says the death toll from the attacks has risen to 160.

    Nine foreigners are confirmed to be among the victims.

  8. Turkish president: 'Assault on all of humanity'published at 12:07 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    President Erdogan tweets

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  9. The scene inside St Sebastian Churchpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    st sebastian chrch in negomboImage source, AFP

    At least 67 people are reported to have died in St Sebastian Church in Negombo, to the north of the capital Colombo.

  10. Europe reflects on the 'horror and sadness'published at 12:01 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    European leaders react to the bombings

    Across Europe, leaders have condemned the Sri Lankan bombings and offered their condolences.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote in a letter of condolence to Sri Lanka's president: "It is shocking that people who had gathered to celebrate Easter were the deliberate target of vicious attacks."

    French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "We strongly condemn these odious acts", adding that he offered "full solidarity with the Sri Lanka people and our thoughts for all those close to the victims this Easter."

    Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted: "Terror and barbarity will never defeat us".

    And Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president, said: "It was with horror and sadness that I heard of the bombings in Sri Lanka costing the lives of so many people.

    "I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who had gathered to worship peacefully or come to visit this beautiful country. We stand ready to support."

  11. Latest blasts 'by those running from the law'published at 11:35 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Sri Lanka's Economic Reform Minister Harsha de Silva quotes Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene as saying that the incidents in Dehiwala and Dematagoda could involve suspects from earlier blasts now fleeing a manhunt by the authorities.

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  12. Pope Francis condemns 'cruel violence'published at 11:32 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    The PopeImage source, Getty Images

    Speaking at the traditional, open-air Easter Sunday mass in the Vatican, Pope Francis condemned the attacks in Sri Lanka as "such cruel violence".

    He told crowds gathered in St Peter's Square that he is close to Christians hit by "mourning and pain" at Easter.

  13. Eighth blast 'kills three'published at 11:29 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    AFP

    Police say the eighth Sri Lanka blast, in the Colombo district of Dematagoda, was a suicide bomb and it killed three police officers.

  14. 'A very, very sad day for all of us'published at 11:23 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Cardinal Archbishop of Colombo condemns the bombings

    Media caption,

    Cardinal Archbishop of Colombo: 'only animals can behave like this'

  15. 'The entire room was shaking'published at 11:20 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    shangri la hotel;Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Damage from the blast at the Shangri-La hotel

    Akshat Saraf was staying at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo with his wife and child.

    He told BBC World News what he saw:

    "From the 25th floor we could hear two loud bangs and the entire room was shaking so we decided we should go down to the lobby even though we could not see much from our window.

    "Once we got downstairs I could see that the emergency services had already arrived. It took two or three mins to come down the stairs and by that time the police and ambulances had arrived. I could see a lot of guests taken to different hospitals.

    "There were casualties, about 40 hotel staff and guests."

  16. Easter Sunday shattered by griefpublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    People gather outside St Anthony's Shrine, the first bomb site

    Buddhist monks stand in front of St Anthony's,Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Buddhist monks stand in front of St Anthony's, which was popular with all religions according to the Cardinal Archbishop of Colombo

    A man mourns outside St Anthony's churchImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    People have gathered outside the church mourning those lost in the blast

    A broken statue of the Virgin MaryImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A statue of the Virgin Mary was seen broken in two outside the church

  17. Minister: 'Culprits identified'published at 11:06 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    St. Anthony"s Shrine, Kochchikade churchImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Soldiers at the bomb-damaged church in Kochchikade

    Sri Lankan Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardane says: "We will take all necessary action against any extremist group that is operating in our country.

    "We shall not give any chance for these extremist groups to operate and do what they have been doing in the past few days.

    "We will take the necessary actions. We will go after them whatever religious extremism they are following.

    "We will take action against and we will stop them from operating in this country in the near future.

    "Right now the CID, the police and the military forces are investigating.

    "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."

  18. 'Active situation'published at 10:57 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Civic media group tweets

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  19. Sri Lanka Muslim Council condemns attackspublished at 10:55 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    Colombo-based journalist Meera Srinivasan from India's The Hindu newspaper has tweeted a statement from the organisation, which says it mourns the loss of innocent lives.

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  20. Pictures from the first bomb sitepublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 21 April 2019

    More than 30 people were killed at St Anthony's church

    Inside St. Anthony's church in KochchikadeImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Inside the church of St Anthony's

    Pictures have been released of the interior of St Anthony's where the first bomb took place.

    It is a hugely popular shrine in Kochchikade, a district of Colombo.

    BBC Sinhala's Azzam Ameen, who was at St Anthony's earlier, said at least 30 people died.

    The church is surrounded by heavy security and a police investigation is underway.