Sri Lanka bombings: Explosion near Colombo church as police attempt to defuse three new bombs

Islamist group behind attacks believed to have links with foreign terrorist networks

Sri Lanka bomb: Dashcam footage showing the blast at Kochikade St. Anthony's church

Coordinated Easter Sunday bombings that ripped through Sri Lankan churches and luxury hotels were carried out by seven suicide bombers from a domestic militant group, according to government officials.

The bombings, the country's deadliest violence since a devastating civil war ended a decade ago on the island nation, killed at least 290 people with more than 500 wounded. Eight Britons are among the dead.

Security forces are carrying out searches across the island to search for those behind the bombs. On Monday the group National Thowheed Jama’ath was named by a government minister as having carried out the attacks.

Follow the latest developments below

Key Points

• Fresh explosion as bomb squad tries to defuse three devices
• Police find 87 bomb detonators in Colombo's main bus station
• Sri Lankan government says local Islamist group National Thowheed Jama’ath responsible for attacks
• Eight Britons among the dead
• Death toll rises sharply overnight to at least 290

[22 April 2019 15:16 · Tom Batchelor]

Interpol, the group that facilitates international police cooperation, is sending a team to Sri Lanka. 

"Checks are already being made against the organisation’s stolen and lost travel documents and nominal databases in order to identify potential investigative leads and international connections," a statement said. 

"Deployed at the request of the Sri Lankan authorities, the Incident Response Team (IRT) will include specialists with expertise in crime scene examination, explosives, counter-terrorism, disaster victim identification and analysis."

[22 April 2019 15:36 · Tom Batchelor]

Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland has called on the Commonwealth nations to support Sri Lanka following Sunday's wave of terror attacks.

In a statement issued on Monday, she said: "On behalf of the Commonwealth family of 53 nations I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of Sri Lanka.

"The quick response from the government, police, military and other essential services should be commended, and I call on Commonwealth countries to offer all possible assistance to aid recovery efforts and investigations into the perpetrators behind these heinous attacks."

[22 April 2019 15:53 · Tom Batchelor]

Sri Lankan security personnel inspect the debris of a van after it exploded when police tried to defuse a bomb near St Anthony's Shrine, as priests look on 

[22 April 2019 15:54 · Tom Batchelor]

Donald Trump has pledged US support for tracking down the perpetrators of the Sri Lanka attacks in a call with the country's prime minister.

[22 April 2019 16:11 · Tom Batchelor]

The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) has condemned the Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

"Today is a day of great sorrow for all of us. The blatant targeting of churches, and when they are at their fullest, is appalling and horrific," the group said. 

"We echo the calls of our brothers and sisters in the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) who, as well as providing assistance on the ground, have asked for a swift comprehensive inquiry to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice."

Mab's president, Anas Altikriti, added: "We express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time, and to the entire Christian community in Sri Lanka."

[22 April 2019 16:30 · Tom Batchelor]

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the US mourns the victims of Easter bomb attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka and is committed to confronting terrorism together with the Sri Lankan people. 

He added: "Today, our nation grieves with the people of Sri Lanka and we stand committed, resolved, to confront terrorism together." 

[22 April 2019 16:33 · Tom Batchelor]

It is now the late evening in Colombo and developments in the investigation have slowed somewhat, so our rolling coverage of events is coming to an end.

However our writers, including Asia editor Adam Withnall who is in Colombo, will continue to bring you the big breaking stories from Sri Lanka, so do check back soon.