Sri Lanka blasts: Denmark’s richest man loses 3 children in attacks

Three of the four children of Denmark’s richest man Anders Holch Povlsen died in the Sri Lanka attacks on Sunday, confirms spokesperson for Povlsen’s fashion firm.

The spokesperson said the family were visiting the island nation over the Easter holidays, but declined to give any further details

"Unfortunately, we can confirm the reports. We ask you to respect the privacy of the family and we therefore have no further comments," BBC quotes the spokesperson as saying.

Povlsen owns the international clothing chain Bestseller. He is the biggest single shareholder in clothing giant Asos and is also the largest private landowner in the United Kingdom, reports BBC.

The death toll in a series of eight blasts that struck three churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has risen to 290, according to police.

Sri Lankan police have also arrested 24 men in connection with the bomb blasts―one of the deadliest in the island nation's history. Earlier, the police had detained 13 people in connection. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the number of arrests on the incidents have now gone up to 24.

The government said it will not disclose the details of the suspects involved in the attacks to prevent them from getting publicity. Reports, however, state that the 24 men detained are from the same radical minority Muslim group.

The blasts targeted three churches―St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa at around 8.45 am as Easter Sunday mass were in progress.

Explosions were also reported from three five-star hotels―the Shangrila, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury.

Nearly 500 people have been injured in the blasts, police said.