Two Australians confirmed dead in Sri Lanka Easter Sunday terror attacks

Two Australians were among at least 290 people killed in a series of terror attacks at churches and hotels throughout Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

Confirming the news at a news conference on Monday afternoon, the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the two Australians were members of the same family and had been living in Sri Lanka.

“Out of respect for the family I can’t provide any further details about those two individuals, other than to say we deeply regret these deaths and we extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies to the family,” Morrison said.

Related: Sri Lanka bombings: 24 arrested in wake of terror attack, police say – live

Two other Australians – a woman in her mid-50s and a woman in her mid to late 20s – were also injured but are now in a stable condition.

“One was treated for shrapnel wounds and the other has been treated for a broken leg,” Morrison said. “We understand they are both receiving consular support and that’s the extent of the information that I have.”

Morrison said one of the deceased, and both injured women, were dual nationals.

Three churches and four hotels were hit by the co-ordinated explosions, which mostly targeted the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. Sri Lankan authorities have now arrested 24 people, but while the country’s defence minister, Ruwan Wijewardene, has blamed religious extremists, no group has yet claimed responsibility.

Wijewardene said suicide bombers were responsible for the majority of the bombings.

The death toll currently stands at 290 but is expected to rise, with at least 500 injured. Most of the dead are understood to be Sri Lankan. AFP reported earlier that at least 37 were foreign citizens, including three Indian citizens, three British and two Turkish citizens.

Earlier on Monday, Morrison said authorities had updated travel advice for Sri Lanka and that Australians should “reconsider [their] need to travel”.

World leaders have condemned the attacks, which Pope Francis described as “cruel violence” in an Easter address on Sunday.

Morrison said there “have been no conclusions made about who was behind the attack”.

“I would caution people just to allow the investigation to take its course,” he said. “Right now, Sri Lanka is grieving. Australia is grieving. Two Australians have lost their lives in this terrible massacre. My heart is full of grief for them and their families.”

Morrison added in a joint statement with the foreign minister, Marise Payne, that they had been in contact with the Sri Lankan government.

“Australia is deeply shocked and saddened by the horrific terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka,” they said.

“We have both been in contact with our counterparts, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and foreign minister Tilak Marapana, today to convey Australia’s deepest condolences and to offer any support that they may require.

“Australia stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they continue to come to terms with this senseless and barbaric attack. The Australian government utterly condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.”