What we're covering here What's happening: At least 207 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of explosions across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, one of the most sacred days of the year for Christians.
Where did the blasts happen: High-end hotels and churches were hit in the coordinated attacks. Eight blast sites have been reported.
What's known about the victims: Bodies are arriving at hospitals in cities Batticaloa, Negombo, and capital city Colombo. Locals and foreigners are among the dead.
Who is responsible: Very little is known about who is behind the seemingly coordinated attacks. Sunday's violence punctures a decade of relative peace in the country following the end of its civil war in 2009. Sri Lanka has since turned itself into a popular tourist destination.
Are you affected by the attacks in Sri Lanka? If it's safe to do so, send us an SMS: +1 347-415-4136
4 min ago Sri Lankan Army moves to protect religious sites In the wake of Sunday's attack, the Sri Lankan Army is boosting security around residences of clergymen, churches and religious places of worship, as well as "prominent state institutions."
A military spokesman told press yesterday that at least a thousand troops had been deployed in capital city Colombo.
In Batticaloa, troops were identifying and delivering the bodies of victims to their next of kin.
1 hr 52 min ago British lawmaker: 'I lost a relative today' As we learn more about the bombing victims, British Labour Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq has announced that one of her relatives was among them.
Tulip Siddiq ? @TulipSiddiq I lost a relative today in the Sri Lanka attacks. It’s all so devastating. Hope everyone is keeping safe. Solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka.
1,987 1:36 PM - Apr 21, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 514 people are talking about this
4 hr 36 min ago Sri Lankan PM says he wasn't kept informed about warnings of a possible attack From CNN’s Larry Register in Atlanta
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a press conference that there appears to have been information about a possible attack prior to the series of deadly attacks on Sunday.
The prime minister said he was not kept informed about the information and that it is one of the issues that must be looked into.
"For now the priority is to apprehend the attackers," he added.
5 hr 18 min ago A memo warning of an attack was circulated in advance, police source says From Journalist Sandun Arosha F'do in Colombo
Before the blasts on Sunday, a memo warned of a potential attack and requested heightened security, a police source tells CNN.
The memo was dated April 11 and was signed by Sri Lanka's deputy inspector general of police.
Sri Lankan Minister of Telecommunication Harin Fernando tweeted a picture of the memo on Sunday.
"Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. What my father heard was also from an intelligence officer. Serious action need to be taken as to why this warning was ignored. I was in Badulla last night," he wrote.
CNN obtained a copy of the memo. Here's what it says:
Reference to the letter of the defence ministry with regard to the above and the statement of IGP dated 2019.04.09 ref : STAFF05/IGP/PS/OUT/2860/19,
2. We would like to draw your special attention to the a page no 2 to 4 of the statement of the State Intelligence service stating that information has been received regarding an alleged plan of suicidal attack by the leader of ' Nations Thawahid Jaman ' Mohomad Saharan .
Death toll 290 Injured 500 Arrests 24 (no group claiming credit)
Van detonates near Colombo church as bomb squad reportedly tries to defuse it (VIDEOS) Some government officials said that the perpetrators were local Islamist extremists, aided by an “international network.”
Sri Lankan police find 87 bomb detonators at Colombo’s main bus station Some government officials said that the perpetrators were local Islamist extremists aided by international groups
PeKaatje: The muslimgroup Thowheeth Jama'ath seems to be responsible for the attacks. Muslims again, I ain't surprised...
I read yesterday that at LEAST 24 victims were British citizens.
But it is Shi Lanka.. a far, far away place that may be 2nd world and Brits that may be White and it is only Christians... right? So if the BBC & CNN isn't crying and screaming, and ranting that it is Christian Persecution... then no one cares.. right? < Sarcasm
Happens every year at Easter time. 800 -1,000 churches have been vandalized in France and Germany (alone). Orthodox Easter is next.
Yup ... No Oil ... not a Muslin country for the major most part (lots of Hindu and others are the big winners there).
Yet they (Government) and Drill Baby Drill Media says it is .. Brown Nationalists that want to break away from Sir Lanka and have independence.
Besides giving of information from Iran is BAD .. but from the Russians is GOOD.
Nothing wrong with that .. no crime but the witch hunt so there is no collusion.
Glad that is over now ... maybe we can get back on rebuilding the 3 Black Churches that got burned up on Easter Week with no deaths like in North Dame Church.
Have to kill people to pretend there is an ISIS at large that Isis Revenge nutters .. and Isis Wannabes .. and ISIS inspiration Jihaddists want to be inspired by ... as Social Media is doing it all with the Internet blowing up Nuke Power Plants.
(5:15) Brigitte Gabriel Discusses the Sri Lanka Easter Bombings
Sri Lanka government was warned TEN DAYS prior to attacks, and did NOT take any precautions Christians are only 7% of the population 89 attacks on Christians this year
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What's happening: At least 207 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of explosions across Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, one of the most sacred days of the year for Christians.
Where did the blasts happen: High-end hotels and churches were hit in the coordinated attacks. Eight blast sites have been reported.
What's known about the victims: Bodies are arriving at hospitals in cities Batticaloa, Negombo, and capital city Colombo. Locals and foreigners are among the dead.
Who is responsible: Very little is known about who is behind the seemingly coordinated attacks. Sunday's violence punctures a decade of relative peace in the country following the end of its civil war in 2009. Sri Lanka has since turned itself into a popular tourist destination.
Are you affected by the attacks in Sri Lanka? If it's safe to do so, send us an SMS: +1 347-415-4136
4 min ago
Sri Lankan Army moves to protect religious sites
In the wake of Sunday's attack, the Sri Lankan Army is boosting security around residences of clergymen, churches and religious places of worship, as well as "prominent state institutions."
A military spokesman told press yesterday that at least a thousand troops had been deployed in capital city Colombo.
In Batticaloa, troops were identifying and delivering the bodies of victims to their next of kin.
1 hr 52 min ago
British lawmaker: 'I lost a relative today'
As we learn more about the bombing victims, British Labour Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq has announced that one of her relatives was among them.
Tulip Siddiq
?
@TulipSiddiq
I lost a relative today in the Sri Lanka attacks. It’s all so devastating. Hope everyone is keeping safe. Solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka.
1,987
1:36 PM - Apr 21, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
514 people are talking about this
4 hr 36 min ago
Sri Lankan PM says he wasn't kept informed about warnings of a possible attack
From CNN’s Larry Register in Atlanta
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said at a press conference that there appears to have been information about a possible attack prior to the series of deadly attacks on Sunday.
The prime minister said he was not kept informed about the information and that it is one of the issues that must be looked into.
"For now the priority is to apprehend the attackers," he added.
5 hr 18 min ago
A memo warning of an attack was circulated in advance, police source says
From Journalist Sandun Arosha F'do in Colombo
Before the blasts on Sunday, a memo warned of a potential attack and requested heightened security, a police source tells CNN.
The memo was dated April 11 and was signed by Sri Lanka's deputy inspector general of police.
Sri Lankan Minister of Telecommunication Harin Fernando tweeted a picture of the memo on Sunday.
"Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. What my father heard was also from an intelligence officer. Serious action need to be taken as to why this warning was ignored. I was in Badulla last night," he wrote.
CNN obtained a copy of the memo. Here's what it says:
April 11, 2019
Director/ Ministerial Security Division
Director/ Judicial security division
Director/ Retired presidents security Division
Acting Director/ Diplomatic security Division
Acting Director/ Retired presidents security Division
INFORMATION OF AN ALLEGED PLAN ATTACK
Reference to the letter of the defence ministry with regard to the above and the statement of IGP dated 2019.04.09 ref : STAFF05/IGP/PS/OUT/2860/19,
2. We would like to draw your special attention to the a page no 2 to 4 of the statement of the State Intelligence service stating that information has been received regarding an alleged plan of suicidal attack by the leader of ' Nations Thawahid Jaman ' Mohomad Saharan .
3. Accordi