Sri Lanka bombings were 'in retaliation' for Christchurch attack, defense minister says

A series of bombings at churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka that killed more than 320 people on Easter Sunday were conducted "in retaliation" for mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month, a senior government official said, NDTV reports. "The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch," Ruwan Wijewardene, Sri Lanka's defense minister, told the country's parliament. He said the death toll now stands at 321 dead and 500 injured. Fifty people were killed and dozens wounded in the attack in Christchurch on March 15 during Friday prayers.