Suicide bombers kill more than 156 people and hurt 400 in 'targeted attack on Christians' on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka

At least 156 people are dead in an Easter Sunday terrorist attack targeting Christians in Sri Lanka after eight explosions ripped through high-end hotels and churches as suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up. 

The initial six explosions injured as many as 500 people, including Japanese and British citizens, and 35 foreigners - from the UK, US, Netherlands and Portugal - are among the dead, sources say.

Reports now indicate a seventh explosion in the southern Colombo suburb of Dehiwala - which killed two people - and an eighth in the northern suburb of Orugodawatta, which killed three police officers during a house search. 

Britain's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka James Dauris said: 'We understand that some British citizens were caught in the blasts but we are unable to say how many people are, or might have been, affected.' 

Sri Lanka's defence ministry has now ordered curfew with immediate effect 'until further notice', and the Sri Lankan government said it had shut down access to social media messaging services, sources say. 

State minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene said investigators have identified the culprits behind the 'terrorist' attacks, and those responsible were religious extremists who would be taken into custody 'as soon as possible'.