By Dilrukshi Handunnetti </p> <p>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AA) – Multiple explosions targeting churches and hotels in Sri Lanka killed at least 207 people and left 450 others wounded on Easter Sunday, local media reported citing police spokesman.</p> <p>According to Sri Lanka’s state-run Daily News, a total of eight explosions — six of them on Sunday morning and the remaining two later in the day — were reported in and just outside the country’s capital Colombo. </p> <p>In the morning, churches in Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa cities, as well as Kingsbury, Cinnamon Grand and Shangri La hotels in Colombo were targeted.</p> <p>Following the explosions, special police forces were deployed to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to thwart any possible attack there.</p> <p>Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena called on his citizens to keep their calm and said he "instructed the authorities to urgently step into action."</p> <p>Meanwhile, Dinendra Ruwan Wijewardene, Sri Lanka's state minister of defense, announced a countrywide curfew for 12 hours, effective as of 6.00 p.m. local time (1230GMT). </p> <p>He described the series of bombings as "a terrorist attack organized by extremists." </p> <p>Also, social media sites and messaging applications were blocked across the country to prevent misinformation and rumors, according to the Daily News. </p> <p><br>
- Foreigners among dead
Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam announced that the schools would remain closed for the next two days, the daily said.
<p>Later, the seventh explosion targeted a three-star hotel near the zoological garden in Dehiwala.</p> <p>The eighth blast took place in a house located in Colombo city’s Dematagoda suburb when the security officials attempted to raid a house in line with explosion investigations, according to the local media.</p> <p>Local broadcaster Derana reported citing police sources that several suspects were apprehended following the bombings. </p> <p>Sri Lanka’s foreign minister announced that at least 27 foreigners were confirmed killed in the attacks, while five were reported missing. </p> <p>No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.</p> <p>Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called a meeting of the National Security Council at his home. </p> <p>“I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today. I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong,” he said in a Tweet. </p> <p>Sri Lanka security forces waged war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a guerilla organization that fought for a separate Tamil state in the island’s north and parts of the east, which ended in May 2009.</p> <p>Some 1.5 million Christians, majority of whom are Catholics, are estimated to live in the country, corresponding to some 7 percent of the total population. </p> <p><br></p> <p>*Ali Murat Alhas has contributed to this story from Ankara.</p> <br>
