18 More Arrested in Sri Lanka Terror Bombings

Sri Lankan police said on Wednesday they detained 18 more people for questioning over the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the death toll had risen to 359 from 321 overnight, but he did not give a breakdown of casualties from the three churches and four hotels hit by the bombers, according to Reuters.

The Islamic State group claimed yesterday its responsibility for a wave of coordinated bombings across Sri Lanka.

Islamic State said through its AMAQ news agency the assaults in Sri Lanka were carried out by seven attackers but gave no evidence to support its claim of responsibility.

At least 500 were injured Sunday after eight simultaneous blasts hit three Sri Lankan churches and three five star hotels in the southwest of the country on Easter.

[caption id="attachment_47422" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Sri Lanka Blasts[/caption]

The Sri Lankan government has imposed emergency law and an overnight curfew. It said it has also blocked online messaging services to stop the spread of inflammatory rumors that it feared could incite communal clashes.