Death toll soars to 290 after Sri Lankan attacks

The death toll in Sri Lanka has reached 290 after a wave of blasts hit churches and luxury hotels across the country on Easter Sunday.

The death toll could rise significantly as hospitals report high casualty figures. At least 27 foreigners are known to have died. About 500 people are injured.

Police said that 24 arrests have now been made, but nothing has been revealed about who carried out the attacks.

Soldiers armed with automatic weapons stood guard outsidemajor hotels and the World Trade Centre in the business district, where the four hotels were targeted on Easter  Sunday. Scores of people who were stranded overnight at the main airport began making their way home as restrictions were lifted.

The country is in shock after the bombings, the deadliest violence since the end of the civil war in 2009.

The island-wide curfew imposed by the government was lifted early on Monday.

Government officials also said major social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, have been blocked inside the country to prevent misinformation and rumours whilst imposing a dusk to dawn curfew.

Via BBC/Reuters