Blast near church while Sri Lanka bomb squad was trying to defuse device - witness

An explosion went off on Monday in a van near a church in Sri Lanka where scores were killed the previous day when bomb squad officials were trying to defuse it, a Reuters witness said.

"The van exploded when the bomb defusing unit of the STF (Special Task Force) and air force tried to diffuse the bomb," the witness said.

Security force spokesman was not immediately available for comment.