Almost 300 Killed in Easter Sunday Attacks in Sri Lanka

Almost 300 Killed in Easter Sunday Attacks in Sri Lanka

Almost 300 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday in a series of coordinated attacks that struck three churches and three hotels.

Almost 300 people were killed and hundreds more were wounded in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday in a series of coordinated attacks that struck three churches and three hotels.

On Monday, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that the death toll had risen to 290, with more than 500 others wounded, the AP reported.

The explosions began as people gathered for Mass on Easter Sunday. In Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, bombings were reported at St. Anthony’s Shrine and three luxury hotels. Explosions were also reported at St. Sebastian’s Church and Zion Church.

Two other explosions were reported later as police searched for suspects in the attacks. An improvised explosive device was discovered and disposed of late Sunday near the country’s main airport, and on Monday, a blast occurred near a church in the capital as police attempted to defuse explosives in a vehicle the attackers used, according to the BBC.

Sri Lanka’s state news agency reported that Easter services scheduled for Sunday evening were canceled, and the government moved to block the use of social media sites in order to stop the spread of misinformation about the attacks. A curfew was put into effect, and armed security forces patrolled the streets in Colombo.

Security forces were installed at religious sites, and the president of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, told defense officials to organize a national operations center for investigations.

According to the Associated Press, Sirisena gave the military “sweeping police powers” beginning Tuesday, including “a wider berth to detain and arrest suspects.”

The AP reported Monday that officials disclosed that intelligence agencies had given warning weeks ago about the possibility of an attack by the radical Muslim group now being blamed for the attack.

Health Minister Riajitha Senaratne said the intelligence agencies began issuing these warnings April 4, the defense ministry contacted the police chief with information including the group’s name, and police wrote to the heads of security of the judiciary and diplomatic security division on April 11.

It was unclear, according to the AP, what action, if any, was taken after officials were made aware of these threats.

The AP reported that no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks but police said 13 suspected connected to the explosions have been arrested.

The attacks are Sri Lanka’s deadliest act of violence since the end of its 26-year civil war in 2009, the BBC said.

Featured

  • Report Reveals Security Training Reduces Global Phishing Click Rates by 86%

    KnowBe4, the cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today launched its “Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report 2025” which measures an organization’s Phish-prone Percentage (PPP) — the percentage of employees likely to fall for social engineering or phishing attacks, indicating the organization’s overall susceptibility to phishing threats. This year’s report found a global average baseline PPP of 33.1%, meaning a third of employees interact with phishing simulations before taking part in best-practice security awareness training (SAT).COVER 2025-PIB-NA-Report_EN-US Read Now

  • TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement Today

    Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the imminent implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Read Now

  • Body-Worn Cameras on the Rise

    On the evening of Oct. 29, 2024, the owner of 300 Guard based in Houston, was shot while on duty at a convenience store. He returned fire. He was wearing a plated vest and thankfully recovered in the hospital. Read Now

  • Brazil Port Enhances Surveillance and Supports Wildlife Conservation with Sustainable Technology

    Ferroport, which operates the iron ore terminal at the Port of Açu in São João da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has deployed state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras from Axis Communications to enhance nighttime security and visibility, while decreasing environmental impact and prioritizing sustainability. With cutting-edge technology, the port now has precise surveillance cameras that capture high-quality nighttime images, while reducing the amount of artificial lighting that negatively impacts the surrounding ecosystem. Read Now

  • Fast-Forward from 1,000 B.C.E. to Today

    The lock and key have been around since time immemorial. In fact, the locksmith profession is one of the oldest in the world when you consider the earliest wooden tumbler lock debuted three-plus millennia ago. Read Now

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.