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22nd Apr 2019

Van explodes in the street as Sri Lanka police attempt to defuse latest bomb

Kyle Picknell

No injuries have yet been reported

Yet another explosive device was discovered in Sri Lanka today after a series of targetted attacks occurred in the country on Easter Sunday, killing 290 people and injuring over 500.

According to Sky News a bomb was found by police in a parked van neat St Anthony’s church in the capital city of Colombo, the site where the first explosion took place at around 08:45 on Sunday.

As police officers attempted to defuse the bomb it exploded with the blast appearing to consume the entire street. Footage of the incident was captured and has since been shared on social media.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from this latest explosion.

Sri Lankan officials have confirmed that 24 suspects have been arrested in connection with the bombs, which have also exploded at the five-star Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in Colombo as well as two other churches in the cities of  Negombo and Batticaloa.

A city-wide curfew is now in operation in Colombo from 8 pm until 4 am according to the Sri Lankan authorities.