A series of blasts tore through churches and international hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter morning, killing at least 207 people and wounding more than 450 in a coordinated series of attacks on tourists and the country’s minority Christian community.
At least eight explosions, most attributed to suicide bombers, took place across the country, turning restaurants and prayer halls that moments earlier were hosting joyful services and holiday feasts into chaos of rubble, broken furniture, shards of glass and the wounded and dead.
Seven people were arrested in Colombo in connection with the bombings, State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene said. Authorities didn’t provide further details about those in custody.
Mr. Wijewardene said that all social media had also been temporarily banned after the attacks while a curfew was imposed on the entire country. Remaining Easter masses were canceled.