Aerial photo taken on April 9, 2019 shows the Shangri-La hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government said on Sunday that seven people had been arrested over the multiple blasts that rocked the island nation earlier in the day and killed at least 207 so far. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)
COLOMBO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said on Sunday that seven people had been arrested over the multiple blasts that rocked the island nation earlier in the day and killed at least 207 so far, without providing further details.
They were arrested during a security forces raid on a house in the Sri Lankan capital several hours after the attacks.
The police said over 450 had been injured while 35 foreigners were among those killed.
State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene told reports that security had been beefed up across the country and he urged the public to remain indoors while a nationwide curfew had been imposed until further notice.
Wijewardene said most of the attacks were caused by suicide bombers, but did not reveal further information.
Eight explosions were reported across Sri Lanka on Sunday as hundreds of worshipers gathered at churches to commemorate Easter Sunday, the police said.
Police spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that two explosions were reported from the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade in the capital Colombo and another from the St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of the capital on Sunday morning.
A third explosion ripped through the Zion Church in the east coastal city of Batticaloa.
Explosions were also reported from three five-star hotels in Colombo, while on Sunday afternoon an explosion rocked a hotel, opposite a zoo in Dehiwala in Colombo and another hit a housing complex in Dematagoda on the northern outskirts of the capital.
