UPDATE: Seven suspects arrested after death toll in Sri Lanka’s ‘Easter Bloodbath’ rises to 207

Colombo, April 21, 2019:

Eight explosions which were triggered in many parts of Sri Lanka killed 207 people, and mostly targeted churches and hotels. Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the blasts which occurred intermittently in parts of the island nation starting from 8:45 am onwards. It has been reported that the death toll includes thirty-five foreigners.

A Kerala woman holidaying in Colombo was among those killed in the bombings authorities said.

The blasts targeted St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45 am. (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels - the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury. Foreigners and locals who were injured in hotel blasts were admitted to the Colombo General Hospital.

At least two of the explosions were carried out by suicide bombers, according to police sources and a hotel official, and police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the authorities were investigating whether suicide attackers were involved in all eight of them. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has also shared helpline numbers activated by the Indian High Commission in Colombo for Indians who want to seek any help. The following are the helpline numbers:  +94777902082 +94772234176.

Stay tuned for more details.