At least 290 are now known to have died in a series of bomb blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka.
Photo: AFP Sri Lankan security personnel walk past dead bodies covered with blankets amid blast debris at St. Anthony's Shrine following an explosion in the church in Kochchikade in Colombo on April 21, 2019.
It is the worst violence to hit the island since its devastating civil war ended a decade ago.
Eight apparently co-ordinated explosions targeted Easter worshippers and high end hotels popular with international guests.
The horrific death toll, which has risen dramatically overnight, was given on Monday morning by a police spokesman, who said a further 500 people had been wounded.
The news came hours after it was revealed that an improvised bomb discovered at the main airport in Colombo had been defused.
A nationwide curfew imposed shortly after the blasts was lifted early Monday.
There was still a heavy security presence at the city's St Sebastien's Church, the scene of one of the devastating blasts.
Sri Lanka's small Christian minority - just six percent of the 21 million-strong population - has been targeted by violence in the past, but never to such brutal effect.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police said Monday 24 people had been arrested.
The government earlier said investigators would look into whether the attackers had "overseas links".
At least two of the explosions involved suicide bombers, including one who lined up at a hotel breakfast buffet before unleashing carnage.
The government said the dead included three Indians, three Britons, two from Turkey and one Portuguese national.
Two people holding both British and US passports were also among the fatalities.
"Additionally, while nine foreign nationals are reported missing, there are 25 unidentified bodies believed to be of foreigners," the foreign ministry said.
The attacks have drawn condemnation from around the world, including from US President Donald Trump and the pope.
Embassies in the capital warned citizens to stay inside, while there were chaotic scenes at Colombo airport as travellers formed huge lines at the only taxi counter that was open.
