Sri Lanka blasts LIVE: At least 290 killed; explosion reported in Colombo

Three churches - St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church were hit by blasts. Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels, the Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury

8:15 PM

Three Indians killed in Sri Lanka blasts

7:35 PM

Indian woman killed

An Indian woman has died in the attacks in Colombo, media reports said. The Hindu identified her as Razeena, who was from Kerala and was visiting Colombo to meet her relatives. She was killed in a bomb at her hotel.

7:29 PM

Two Turkish citizens were among the people killed, according to Turkey's state media Anadolu. The Turks were engineers working on a project in Sri Lanka, said Anadolu.

7:07 PM

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep concerns over the explosions which took place on Sunday morning.

 

In the message, she prayed for peace and salvation of the departed souls and offered her condolences to the grieving families.

6:51 PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attacks "an assault on all of humanity"

6:32 PM

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a message to his Sri Lankan counterpart that he was "stunned and horrified" by the "cowardly terror attacks." 

 

Angel Merkel said: "Terrorism, religious hatred and intolerance cannot be allowed to win." "We're horrified by the news that Christians in Sri Lanka were attacked and killed during Easter services," wrote Merkel's spokesperson on Twitter. "We mourn them and pray for the injured and their family members."

6:29 PM

British, Dutch and American citizens among those killed

Hospital sources say British, Dutch and American citizens among those killed: AFP report

5:53 PM

Death toll at 207: Report

Death toll in the multiple explosions that hit Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to 207, reports Bloomberg News.

5:36 PM

Death toll nearly 200: reports

Death toll in the eight blasts that rocked Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to nearly 200, say reports.

5:06 PM

7 people under arrest for attacks that killed at least 160 people

4:50 PM

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern says: "New Zealand condemns all acts of terrorism, and our resolve has only been strengthened by the attack on our soil on the 15th of March."

 

" To see an attack in Sri Lanka while people were in churches and at hotels is devastating", she said in a written statement.

 

"New Zealand rejects all forms of extremism and stands for freedom of religion and the right to worship safely.

Collectively we must find the will and the answers to end such violence."

4:47 PM

US President Donald Trump says: "Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels," he tweeted. "...We stand ready to help!"

4:01 PM

Eighth Sri Lanka blast was suicide bomb, killed three: Report

Police say eighth Sri Lanka blast was suicide bomb, killed three, reports news agency AFP.

3:55 PM

Sri Lanka curfew imposed immediately 'until further notice', says police: AFP report

3:42 PM

The eighth explosion was reported close to a housing complex at Dematogoda a short while ago, Sri Lankan police said.