New explosion near Colombo church

New explosion near Colombo church

Colombo, April 22, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ambulances are seen outside a hospital in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 21, 2019. Sri Lankan Police said on Sunday that 13 people had been arrested over a series of blasts which killed 228 people across the island nation. (Xinhua/Samila/IANS)

Colombo, April 22 (IANS) A new explosion was reported on Monday near a church in Colombo, triggering panic.

Video footage from St. Anthony's Church, shared by Guardian journalist Michael Safi, showed people running from the area in panic.

According to the BBC, the blast happened while "security forces personnel ... tried to defuse a newly discovered explosives in a vehicle".

Journalist Safi said there had been a "small explosion".

The shrine was one of the places targeted by the bomb attacks which killed at least 290 people and injured over 500 on Easter Sunday.

--IANS

soni/mr

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