
Lahore: Suicide attack by Taliban faction targeting Christians kills 72
A breakaway Pakistani faction of the militant Taliban group has claimed responsibility for an Easter Sunday bombing in a park in the eastern city of Lahore that killed at least 72 people.
Ahsanullah Ahsan, spokesperson for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told the Associated Press that a suicide bomber with the faction deliberately targeted the Christian community.
The explosion took place near the children’s rides in Gulshan-e-Iqbal park — which was crowded with Christians celebrating Easter —local police chief Haider Ashraf said. He said the explosion appeared to have been a suicide bombing, but investigations were ongoing.
The explosion killed 72 people and wounded over 300, said Deeba Shahnaz, a spokesperson for Lahore rescue administration.
Punjab’s chief minister Shahbaz Sharif announced three days of mourning and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice, said Zaeem Qadri, a spokesman for the provincial government.
The park was manned by police and private security guards, police chief Haider Ashraf said. “We are in a warlike situation and there is always a general threat but no specific threat alert was received for this place,” he added.
Salman Rafiq, a health adviser to the Punjab government, called on people to donate blood, saying that many of those wounded were in a critical condition.
One witness, who wished to be identified only by his first name, Afzal, told AP that he had taken 20 children to hospital and carried 3 dead bodies to a police car. “I can’t explain to you the tragic situation,” he said.

Another witness, Tariq Mustapha, said that he had just left the park when he heard an explosion. He said his friend was still missing.
Footage broadcast on local television stations showed chaotic scenes in the park, with people running while carrying children and cradling the wounded in their laps.
A witness, not identified by name on Pakistan’s Geo TV station, said he was heading toward a fairground ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor. A woman was shown crying while looking desperately for her missing five-year-old son.
A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council said that the United States “condemns the attack in the strongest terms,” describing it as a “cowardly act in what has long been a scenic and placid park.” Ned Price said the US would continue to work with Pakistan and its partners to “root out the scourge of terrorism.”

329 candidates nominated for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by Feb 1 deadline

China sets aim to vaccinate 40% of population by June

Stocks climb more than 2% as investors get back to buying

Chinese hackers target SII, Bharat Biotech, says security firm

Police investigate possible role of foreigners in Barcelona protests

Mexico hopes for US answer on Covid-19 vaccines in Biden talks

First UAE ambassador arrives in Israel, eyes Tel Aviv embassy

Experts urge independent probe into Kremlin critic Navalny's poisoning

Nepal President summons lower house session on March 7, after top court's order

What we know about the new Brazilian Covid-19 variant P.1

Ukraine throws away unused Covid-19 shots as doctors skip their own vaccinations

Mexican president Obrador to discuss vaccines, migration with Biden

Elizabeth Warren, other progressives propose ‘ultra-millionaire’ tax

US Democrats shelve minimum wage tax to speed work on stimulus
