The Easter Sunday bomb blasts at three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka killed more than 200 people and wounded at least 450, police officials said, This was the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago. The government declared a curfew in Colombo and blocked access to social media and messaging sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp. It was unclear when the curfew would be lifted. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks.
Seven people have been arrested and three policemen have been killed during a raid on a house in Columbo following a number of bomb attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. The death toll from the attacks at three churches and four hotels has risen to more than 250 with over 400 injured. Addressing crowds in St. Peter’s square in Rome, gathered to hear his traditional Easter Sunday “Urbi et Orbi” greeting to Rome and to the world, the Pope condemned the attacks.