Sri Lanka Bombings

Easter Sunday bomb blasts at three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka.

The blasts killed more than 200 people and wounded at least 450.

the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago.
Seven people were arrested and
three police officers were killed during a security forces raid on a house several hours after the rash of attacks,

some of which were suicide bombs.
The government declared a curfew in Colombo
and blocked access to social media and messaging sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
It was unclear when the curfew would be lifted.
"Altogether, we have information of 207 dead from all hospitals.

According to the information as of now
we have 450 injured people admitted to hospitals,"

At least 27 of the dead were foreigners.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attacks
in a country which was at war for decades with Tamil separatists until 2009,

a time when bomb blasts in the capital were common.

they faced increasing intimidation from some extremist Buddhist monks in recent years.

Last year, there were clashes between the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community and minority Muslims,
with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam.

Dozens were killed in one of the blasts at St. Sebastian's Gothic-style Catholic church.

 the police suspected a suicide attack there.

Pictures from the site showed bodies on the ground,
blood on the church pews and a destroyed roof. (bangku gereja)
Local media reported 25 people were also killed in an attack on an evangelical church.

There was no word on casualties in the hotels,
he saw some body parts, including a severed head, lying on the ground beside the Tropical Inn.
The first six explosions were all reported within a short period
in the morning just as church services were starting.
The bodies of 27 foreigners were counted at hospitals.
Among them was a Dutch national.
There was an eighth explosion at a house in Colombo.
three officers were killed and seven people detained during a raid on this location.
"I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today. [pengecut]

I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong,"

 The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation."
he had ordered the police to investigate who was behind the attacks and their agenda.
St. Anthony's Shrine, is a tourist landmark.
Buddhist monks allegedly attempted to disrupt a Sunday worship service,

Out of Sri Lanka's total population of around 22 million, 70 percent are Buddhist, 12.6 percent Hindu, 9.7 percent Muslim and 7.6 percent Christian,

according to the country's 2012 census.
Christian groups and churches had been pressured to end worship meetings

after authorities classified them as "unauthorized gatherings".
Buddhist monks regularly tried to close down Christian and Muslim places of worship,

US President offered "heartfelt condolences" to the Sri Lankan people

and stood ready to help

there was "no place for such barbarism in our region",

the bombings were "an assault on all of humanity".

"I wish to express my affectionate closeness to the Christian community,

hit while it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence."
Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Day after his death on the cross.