A series of coordinated bombings on Easter Sunday rocked Sri Lanka.
More than 350 people were killed and at least 500 wounded in the deadliest attack in the island nation since the end of the civil war 10 years ago.
The blasts targeted three churches, as well as four hotels – including the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and the Cinnamon Grand – in the capital Colombo.
Nearly all victims were Sri Lankan. Dozens of foreigners were also killed.
Sri Lanka’s state defence minister said initial investigations showed the attacks were carried out by two little-known Muslim organisations.
Here are the latest updates:
Wednesday, April 24:
Sri Lanka president asks security officials to stand down
Sri Lanka’s president has moved to replace the defence secretary and the national police chief after security forces failed to act on warnings before the Easter suicide bombings.
President Maithripala Sirisena’s office announced that he requested the resignations of defence secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara. It wasn’t immediately clear who would replace them.
Sri Lanka police defuse bombs
Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force in the Katana area successfully defused an explosive device, police sources told Al Jazeera. The region, some 6.7 kilometres from Katuwapitiya, was the scene of one of the Easter Sunday attacks.
Police also attempted to defuse a second bomb before it detonated in Pettah, a neighbourhood in Colombo. The device was attached to an unattended motorcycle, according to police.
Sri Lanka Muslim groups denounce attackers
Sri Lanka’s Muslim civil society movements and associations called upon authorities to immediately arrest and punish the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday bombings, saying extremism in the name of Islam does not represent the religion.
The groups – including All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, the Muslim Council, Jama’athe Islami, the Memon Association of Sri Lanka and Anjuman-E Saifi – said in a joint statement that authorities should also apprehend those who aided and abetted the attackers through incitement, financing and other support.
The statement added that neither the National Thowheed Jamath, a little-known local Muslim organisation blamed for the bombings by the government, nor any other group found to be responsible for the attacks represent Islam or reflect Muslim beliefs.
Leader among nine suicide bombers: Minister
The leader of one of the groups behind the Easter Sunday attacks was believed to be one of the suicide bombers, which also included a woman, state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardena said.
Speaking at a news conference in Colombo, Wijewardena said security forces believed that the bombers were “well educated” individuals, adding that one of them studied in the UK and Australia.
Wijewardena said there were nine suicide bombers, of which eight have been identified. Two safe houses were found after the attacks and at least 60 people were arrested in connection with the bombings, the minister added.
Death toll rises to 359
The death toll from the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka has risen to 359, police said.
Police spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekera released the toll on Wednesday but did not give a breakdown of casualties from the three churches and four hotels hit by suicide bombers.
