COLOMBO: At least 290 are now known to have died in a series of bomb blaststhat tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, in the worstviolence to hit the island since its devastating civil war ended a decadeago.
Eight apparently co-ordinated explosions targeted Easter worshippers andhigh end hotels popular with international guests.
The horrific death toll, which has risen dramatically overnight, was givenon Monday morning by a police spokesman, who said a further 500 people hadbeen wounded.
The news came hours after it was revealed that an improvised bombdiscovered at the main airport in Colombo had been defused.
A nationwide curfew imposed shortly after the blasts was lifted earlyMonday, with AFP journalists reporting a steady stream of people and tuktuks on the streets of Negombo.
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There was still a heavy security presence at the city’s St Sebastien’sChurch, the scene of one of the devastating blasts.
At least 500 were reported to be wounded in the attacks, including fourPakistani nationals.
