Sri Lanka news: Five British citizens among more than 200 killed after eight explosions hit churches and hotels
Security officials arrest 13 suspects over Easter Sunday violence
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
At least five British citizens lost their lives in the attacks.
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 police have now arrested 13 suspects in connection with Sunday's attacks.
A spokesperson said the police also have a vehicle which they suspect was used by the attackers to travel into Colombo.
Officers have also found a safe house used by the suspected terrorists.
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."
"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.
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."
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.
The dawn to dusk curfew in Sri Lanka has left its cities deserted.
In this image, a single man can be seen walking on the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital.
The first victims of Sunday's attacks in Sri Lanka have been named.
Shantha Mayadunne, a well-known TV chef and her daughter Nisanga had been staying at the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo when they were reportedly killed.
Nisanga had studied at the University of London, according to her Facebook page.
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.
Three Sri Lankan police officers were killed on Saturday afternoon during a security forces raid.
The officers were searching a house in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, several hours after Sunday's attacks.
Police officers said there was an explosion at the house while it was being searched.
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