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Sri Lanka: Pictures from the scene of horrifying bomb attacks

Warning: this story contains some images readers may find distressing

Sunday 21 April 2019 17:11 BST

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

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1/38Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan Special Task Force officers raid a house following an explosion in capital Colombo

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A blood-spattered statue of Jesus Christ while crime scene officials inspect the site of a bomb blast, as the sun shines through the blown-out roof, inside St Sebastian's Church in Negombo

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A police officer inspects the damage after a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan soldiers look on inside the St Sebastian's Church at Katuwapitiya in Negombo following a bomb blast during the Easter service

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A woman cries next to a coffin of a bomb blast victim. A series of eight devastating bomb blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on April 21, killing more than 300 people

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

People who live near the church that was attacked the day before, leave their houses as the military try to defuse a suspected van before it exploded in Colombo

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Shoes and belongings of victims are collected as evidence at St Sebastian's Church

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan police were forded to clear an area while Special Task Force Bomb Squad officers inspected the site of an exploded van near a church the day after it was attacked

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Queues at the National Blood Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a request for blood to aid in recovery efforts

Mr Lavasquabble/Twitter

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Medical response team work to remove dead bodies from the scene of bombings in Sri Lankan capital Colombo

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan security personnel inspect the debris of a car after it exploded when police tried to defuse a bomb

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Security personnel work at the scene of a bombing at a church in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A woman is helped near St Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019. At least 130 people were killed and more than 500 hospitalised after near-simultaneous explosions hit three hotels and three churches on Easter Sunday.

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan police officers clear the road as an ambulance drives through carrying injured of church blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A Sri Lankan soldier stands guard near a car explosion

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A woman prays at St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Priests stand inside St Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church on the outskirts of Colombo after a bombing

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A Sri Lankan woman living near St. Anthony's shrine runs for safety with her infant after police found explosive devices in a parked vehicle in Colombo

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

People react during a mass for victims, two days after a string of suicide bomb attacks on churches and luxury hotels

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Security personal react as a device was detonated in a controled explosion in a van near the St Anthony's Church

EPA

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Security forces inspect the scene of a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo

Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

The Kingsbury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a bombing attack

Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

The damaged interior of a church in Negombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing attack

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Police and security personnel stand guard outside the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo following a bombing attack

EPA

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Debris is seen at St Anthony's Church in this still image from video footage after explosions hit churches and hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019

Derana TV/via Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Damage inside a church following a bombing attack

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A Sri Lankan Special Task Force officer scales a house during a raid following an explosion in capital Colombo

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A general interior view showing damage after an explosion hit St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019

EPA

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Priests walk into St Anthony's Shrine Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A Sri Lankan police officer stands outside St Anthony's Shrine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a blast on Sunday 21 April 2019

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade Church

Reuters

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Local and security officials gather at the scene at St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka

EPA

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

An ambulance is seen outside the church premises with gathered security personnel following a blast at St Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Armed policemen patrol the area after an explosion hit at St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019

EPA

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday 21 April 2019

AP

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019

AFP/Getty

Sri Lanka: Scene of the bomb attacks and aftermath

Police officers inspect the scene after an explosion hit at St Anthony's Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019

EPA

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Scenes of devastation followed multiple bomb attacks across Sri Lanka.

In the capital Colombo, where five bombings have been reported, Special Task Force personnel are shown raiding a house in which three police officers were earlier killed in a blast whilst searching the property.

The targeted buildings are seen torn apart, strewn with shattered glass and debris scattered by the explosions.

Injured people are led to safety by medical responders and civilians alike as people are seen flocking to a blood bank to donate for victims.

Priests are shown entering St Anthony’s Shrine for prayer after the church on the outskirts of Colombo was hit by a blast during the Easter Sunday service.

Over 200 people have been killed in the bombings and seven arrests have been made so far in connection with them.

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