Lahore Bombing: Suicide Attack Kills 72 in Park on Easter Sunday

LAHORE, Pakistan — At least 72 people were killed and more than 320 others injured when a suicide bomber targeting Christians blew himself up at a busy park in Lahore on Sunday, officials said.

 

“Mostly women and children are killed and injured in the blast,” Lahore Police Chief Haider Ashraf said, adding that the park was busier than usual as Easter Sunday was being celebrated. “He chose a soft target and that’s why he went towards women and children in the park.”

 

Many of the victims had lined up to buy tickets for a train ride when the blast occurred. The dead included 36 kids. The Associated Press reported that 10 members of one family were killed, all Muslims.

 

Witness Mohammad Arshad that he heard a “very loud” explosion.

 

“I was standing there near the seesaw when the blast occurred,” Arshad told Reuters. “As we rushed over here we saw a pool of blood and people [both dead and injured] lying here and there.”

 

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