Bombs kill more than 200 in Sri Lankan churches, hotels on Easter Sunday

COLOMBO, April 21 (Reuters) - More than 200 people were killed and at least 450 injured in bomb blasts that ripped through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, the first major attack on the Indian Ocean island since the end of a civil war 10 years ago.

Sri Lankan military officials stand guard in front
of the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade church
 after an explosion in Colombo 

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.

Debris is seen at St Anthony's church
 after explosions
 hit churches and hotels in Colombo 

But in a sign that the attacks on three churches and four hotels could lead to communal violence, police reported on Sunday night that there had been a petrol bomb attack on a mosque in the northwestern district of Puttalum and arson attacks on two shops owned by Muslims in the western district of Kalutara. more