PEOPLE across Blackburn with Darwen are being urged to observe a minute's silence for victims of the Sri Lanka terror attacks.

The interfaith community of Blackburn with Darwen will unite at Blackburn Cathedral for a short service of reflection from 11am on Friday, following the attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

A number of speakers – including the Dean of Blackburn Cathedral, the Very Reverend Peter Howell Jones – will then lead an informal service ahead of the minute’s silence at 11.30am.

Leader of the council, Cllr Mohammed Khan, said: "I am appalled and deeply saddened about the horrific events on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

"Atrocities such as these are an attack on us all.

"We mustn’t let hatred win."

Everyone is welcome to attend the cathedral service. Alternatively, everyone is invited to observe the minute’s silence from wherever they are at 11.30am.

The death toll from the Easter suicide bombings in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 and more suspects have been arrested.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility and released images that purported to show the seven bombers who blew themselves up at three churches and three hotels on Sunday.

It was the worst violence the South Asian island nation had seen since its civil war ended a decade ago.

The government has said the attacks were carried out by Islamic fundamentalists in apparent retaliation for the New Zealand mosque massacre last month, but has said the seven bombers were all Sri Lankan.