Sri Lanka blocks social media following attacks

The Sri Lankan government has blocked social media in the country to "ease tensions" following Easter Sunday's deadly terror attacks.

At least 290 people were killed and 500 more injured in eight coordinated explosions which took place around Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday morning.

Emergency powers are now to come into force from midnight on Monday as the authorities scramble to react to the bomb attacks.

Image: The locations of the reported blasts in Sri Lanka

The legal basis for the social media blocks is not known, but the emergency will allow police and the military extensive powers to detain and interrogate suspects without court orders.

Censorship monitoring organisation NetBlocks said it found Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Viber, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger to be blocked in Sri Lanka.

According to the country's ministry of defence, the blocks will prevent the spread of disinformation and ease tensions following the attacks.

They said the blocks will remain until authorities have finished investigating a Read More – Source

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