No Armenians among victims of Sri Lanka deadly terrorist acts

Armenia’s embassy in India reports that there are no Armenians among the victims of the terrorist acts in Sri Lanka.

Speaking to Aysor.am, an embassy official said that the information is still being clarified due to absence of Armenian diplomatic representation in Sri Lanka but according to the possessed information, no Armenians suffered from blasts in Catholic churches there.

The death toll in Sri Lanka has soared to 290 after a wave of blasts hit churches and luxury hotels across the country on Sunday.

Police said 24 people had been arrested, but it is not yet known who carried out the attacks.

About 500 people are injured and at least 35 foreigners are among the dead.

The first reports of explosions came at about 08:45 local time with six blasts reported within a small space of time.

Three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo's Kochchikade district were targeted during Easter services. Blasts also rocked the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the country's capital.

All the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers, officials said.

Police then carried out raids on two addresses and there were explosions at both. One was in Dehiwala, southern Colombo, and the other was near the Colombo district of Dematagoda in which three officers were killed.

The vast majority of those killed are thought to be Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians who died at Easter church services.

The ministry of foreign affairs says it believes 35 foreign nationals are among the dead.