Sri Lanka blasts: Death toll touches 321
New Delhi, Apr 23 (IBNS): The death toll in the Sri Lankan bomb blasts incidents have touched 321, officials said on Tuesday.
So far, 40 people have been arrested in connection in the incidents.
As per Sri Lankan government's website: "The death toll from multiple bomb explosions that targeted churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday rose to 321 with some of the injured at hospitals succumbing to their injuries overnight.Around 500 people were wounded in the blasts, and some of them are still receiving treatments at hospitals."
Police media spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara told the news portal that the police have arrested 40 suspects in connection with the bomb attacks.
All of the individuals arrested are Sri Lankans.
"Six Bombs exploded at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana, and Zion Church in Batticaloa while hotels Kingsbury, Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grands came under attack. A Seventh bomb exploded near the National Zoo in Dehiwala," read a statement issued by the Sri Lankan government website.
Islamic extremists carried out Sunday's coordinated attacks in retaliation for a March attack on two mosques in New Zealand, Ruwan Wijewardana, the Sri Lankan State Defense Minister, was quoted as saying by CNN.
Addressing parliament today, Wijewardana said that initial investigations showed "the chain of bombings" was carried out by "a radical Islam group" which he named as the National Tawheed Jamath (NTJ), reported the American news channel.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the incidents so far.
A person had attacked two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch recently and killed at least 50 people.
Meanwhile, on Easter Sunday, Sri Lanka’s Capital Colombo was hit by a series of coordinated bombings in churches and hotels.
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