129 people killed and hundreds injured after explosions in three churches and three hotels in and around the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.
The blasts hit several high-end hotels and a church in Colombo, while two other churches were targeted outside Colombo, Sri Lanka police told news agency AFP.
The explosions happened at around 8:45 am local time. The Sri Lankan army has deployed 200 troops to ensure security.
The Sri Lanka government has called an emergency meeting. The Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva, said in a tweet. "Emergency meeting called in a few minutes. Rescue operations underway," he tweeted.
St Anthony's Church in Colombo and St Sebastian's Church at Katuwapitiya in the town of Negombo reported the first explosions.
"A bomb attack to our church, please come and help if your family members are there," read a post in English on the Facebook page of the St Sebastian's Church.
Soon after the initial reports, four other blasts were confirmed by the police. Three of those were at hotels, while another was reported from a church in the town of Batticaloa.
An official at the Batticaloa hospital told AFP more than 300 people had been admitted with injuries following the blast there.
The blasts hit the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, the Shangri-La and the Kingsbury in Colombo.
At least one of the victims was killed in Colombo's Cinnamon Grand Hotel, near the prime minister's official residence, where the blast ripped through a restaurant, a hotel official told AFP.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, responding to the explosions, said that she is in close touch with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo and that the government was closely monitoring the situation in the neighboring country.
Colombo - I am in constant touch with Indian High Commissioner in Colombo. We are keeping a close watch on the situation. @IndiainSL— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 21, 2019
The Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka has tweeted helpline numbers for anyone requiring assistance.
Explosions have been reported in Colombo and Batticaloa today. We are closely monitoring the situation. Indian citizens in need of assistance or help and for seeking clarification may call the following numbers : +94777903082 +94112422788 +94112422789— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 21, 2019
In addition to the numbers given below, Indian citizens in need of assistance or help and for seeking clarification may also call the following numbers +94777902082 +94772234176— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) April 21, 2019
This is the biggest attack on Sri Lanka of this manner in several years. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The government has declared two days' holiday in schools in Sri Lanka after the blasts shocked the nation on Sunday.
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