Explosion In Van Near Colombo Church When Officials Were Defusing Bomb
“The van exploded when the bomb defusing unit of the STF (Special Task Force) and air force tried to difuse the bomb,” the witness said. The explosion happened around 50 metres from the St Anthony’s Shrine, one of three churches targeted in a string of suicide bombs on Sunday that killed nearly 300 people. Security forces are carrying out searches across the island to find those behind the bombs. No group has claimed responsibility. The US Embassy said terrorists may attack with little or no warning targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports and other public areas. The Indian Coast Guard is on high alert along the maritime boundary with Sri Lanka, news agency ANI quoted sources. Ships and maritime surveillance aircraft Dornier have been deployed on the maritime border to prevent any attempts by suicide bombing perpetrators to escape from Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities order curfew in Colombo from 8 pm on Monday to 4 am on Tuesday, the island country’s government information department said. An indefinite curfew ordered yesterday after the attacks was lifted early today but a two-day holiday was decreed in a bid to reduce public traffic.
SriLankan Airlines Asks Passengers To Report To Airport Check-In 4 Hours Early:
There were disruptions to flights in Sri Lanka, but the country’s national carrier SriLankan has asked leaving passengers to report to check-in counters at least four hours prior to departure because of tight security checks at the Bandaranaike International airport.
Eiffel Tower Lights Dimmed In Tribute To Sri Lanka Bomb Blast Victims: