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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Coordinated bombings turned Easter Sunday festivities into a national tragedy in Sri Lanka, killing at least 290 people and wounding more than 500 others. The nine blasts mainly targeted churches and luxury hotels in the country's deadliest violence since its civil war ended a decade ago.
The blasts destroyed ceilings and blew out windows. People carried victims out of blood-spattered pews.
Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne says all of the suicide bombers were Sri Lankan citizens from a domestic Muslim militant group named National Thowfeek Jamaath, but that authorities suspect foreign links.
Police says 13 suspects have been arrested, though there was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The Foreign Ministry says the bodies of at least 39 foreigners from a number of countries, including the United States, Britain, India, China, Japan and Portugal, have been recovered. The island nation is a popular tourist destination.
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