Sri Lankan minister links blasts to revenge for New Zealand mosque attack

Sri Lanka's worst terror attack targeting churches and luxury hotels on Easter Sunday was carried out by the local Islamic extremists in retaliation for the mosque attacks in New Zealand, deputy defence minister informed Parliament on Tuesday, citing the initial probe result.

AFP news agency quoting Sri Lanka Deputy Defence Minister: Initial probe shows Sri Lanka attacks were 'retaliation for Christchurch'. pic.twitter.com/mtpWkJqryS

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2019

Bomb blasts during Easter celebrations at three Sri Lankan churches and three luxury hotels have killed 290 people and wounded more than 400, according to officials. Nine foreigners were among the dead, the officials said.

The blasts targeted St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

The three hotels hit were the Shangri-La Colombo, Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo and the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. It was unclear whether there were any casualties in the hotels.