At least 207 people have died and over 400 injured after a series of coordinated explosions hit churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
Blasts ripped through three churches in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa at approximately 8:45 a.m. as worshipers were gathering for services. Explosions also took place at four hotels within Colombo, the nation’s capital, police said, while an eighth blast occurred under a flyover within the city.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings which are the deadliest to occur in the country since its civil war ended in 2009.
Sri Lankan foreign minister has put the number of foreigners killed in the explosion at 27. Two police officers were also killed during an operation to capture suspects from a safehouse in Dematagoda, the area outside Colombo where the eighth blast occurred.
World leaders have offered condolences to the government of Sri Lanka for the tragedy.