The discovery was made a day after suicide bombers attacked churches and hotels killing 290 people and wounding about 500 (Picture: AP)

Sri Lankan police have found 87 bomb detonators at the main bus station in Sri Lanka.

Officers made the discovery in the capital, Colombo, on Monday, a spokesman said, a day after suicide bombers attacked churches and hotels killing 290 people and wounding about 500.

Security forces are carrying out searches across the island to find those behind the bombs.

No group has claimed responsibility, however a Sri Lankan government official has said a local militant group named National Thowfeek Jamaath is responsible.


Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told a news conference on Monday that all seven bombers linked to the near-simultaneous attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels in and around Colombo were Sri Lankan citizens.

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Sri Lankan police have found 87 bomb detonators at the main bus station in Sri Lanka (Picture: AP)

Officials said 24 suspects are in custody for questioning (Picture: Getty)

Officials said the causes of three later bombings on Sunday are still being investigated.



Mr Semaratme said that while the group is domestic, foreign links are suspected.

A total of nine bombings on Sunday killed at least 290 people including at least 27 foreigners. About 500 others were wounded in the blasts. Eight Britons are believed to be among the dead.

Officials said 24 suspects are in custody for questioning.

Two government ministers have alluded to intelligence failures.

Two government ministers have alluded to intelligence failures (Picture: Getty)

Telecommunications Minister Harin Fernando tweeted: ‘Some intelligence officers were aware of this incidence. Therefore there was a delay in action. Serious action needs to be taken as to why this warning was ignored.’

Mano Ganeshan, the minister for national integration, said the security officers within his ministry had been warned by their division about the possibility two suicide bombers would target politicians.

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the Criminal Investigation Department probing the blasts will look into the reports.

Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardena previously described the blasts as a terrorist attack by religious extremists.