Sri Lankan authorities have blocked most social media services in the country following the Easter Sunday attacks that killed more than 200 people.
Sri Lankan security forces secure the area near St. Anthony's Shrine after an explosion hit St. Anthony's Church in Colombo on April 21, 2019.Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.Sri Lankan authorities have blocked most social media services in the country following the Easter Sunday attacks that killed more than 200 people, a group that monitors internet censorship said.
The defense ministry said the shutdown would extend until the government concludes its investigation into the bomb blasts that rocked churches, luxury hotels and other sites."What we've seen is that when social media is shut down, it creates a vacuum of information that's readily exploited by other parties," said Alp Toker, executive director of the London-based group."It can add to the sense of fear and can cause panic.
It isn't the first time Sri Lanka has blocked social media. The government imposed a weeklong ban in March 2018 because of concerns that WhatsApp and other platforms were being used to fan anti-Muslim violence in the country's central region.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Explosions hit two churches in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayWitnesses are reporting two explosions have hit two churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, causing casualties among worshippers.
Read more »
Explosions hit 2 churches in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayGet breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. Find the top news online at ABC news.
Read more »
Coordinated explosions rock three churches and two hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayThe blasts in the churches took place at approximately 8:45 a.m. in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. More than 100 people were admitted to hospitals in Colombo. This is a developing story. It will be updated.
Read more »
Reports: Multiple explosions rock Sri Lanka capital on Easter SundayMultiple casualties are reported after several explosions rocked chruches in the capital of Sri Lanka during Easter service
Read more »
Explosions kill at least 30 in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — At least 30 people were killed and nearly 300 wounded in near simultaneous blasts that rocked three churches and three hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, officials...
Read more »
Over 100 causalities reported after explosions rock churches, several hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter SundayMultiple explosions have occurred in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, including at two churches holding Easter Sunday services.
Read more »
At least 100 killed as Easter Sunday blasts hit churches, hotels in Sri LankaJUST IN: At least 100 people were killed in Easter Sunday blasts that hit churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, hospital and police officials said.
Read more »
At least 129 killed in six Easter Sunday explosions at Sri Lanka churches and hotelsThree explosions took place in Catholic churches where Easter services were underway while three other explosions were reported in five-star hotels
Read more »
Reports: Multiple explosions kill 129, injure hundreds in Sri Lanka capital on Easter SundayAt least 129 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in a series of explosions early Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka
Read more »
Sri Lanka explosions: Over 100 dead in Easter Sunday attackThe blasts in the churches took place at approximately 8:45 a.m. in the cities of Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa. More than 200 people were admitted to hospitals.
Read more »
At least 100 killed in Easter Sunday blasts at Sri Lanka churches, hotelsSri Lanka's government declared a curfew and said it had shut down access to major social media sites and messaging services after Easter Sunday blasts killed at least 130 people
Read more »