World mourns for Lahore
A suicide bomber killed at least 65 people and injured more than 280 others, mostly women and children, at a public park in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday, striking at the heart of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's political base of Punjab.
The blast occurred in the parking area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, a few feet (metres) away from children's swings. Around 150 people were injured in the explosion, officials said.
Taliban has now claimed responsibility of the dastardly attack. Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation with 190 million people, is plagued by a Taliban insurgency, criminal gangs and sectarian violence. Punjab is its biggest and wealthiest province.
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| Inside Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park. |
Eyewitnesses said they saw body parts strewn across the parking lot once the dust had settled after the blast. The park had been particularly busy on Sunday evening due to the Easter holiday weekend.
Read more here.
Twitter reactions:
Heard about the blast in Lahore. I strongly condemn it. My condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 27, 2016
Strongly condemn Lahore Blast on Easter. Terrorism has to be fought at all levels by all and in all Countries. Terrorists have no religion.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) March 28, 2016
#LahoreBlast Condolences to the peopel of Pakistan. It reaffirms that we should all make concerted efforts to fight aganist terrorism
— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) March 28, 2016
#LahoreBlast must not be construed as Pakistani Muslims killing the Christians. It was an attack by militias that kill people of all faiths.
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) March 27, 2016
35 people who came to celebrate Easter on a bus to Gulshan Iqbal Park from Sahiwal are all missing now. #LahoreBlast pic.twitter.com/YiJsfgqXiI
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) March 27, 2016
What a night, tragedy & exultation in the subcontinent. So many innocent lives lost in Pak blast. & Virat's classic innings agnst Aussies...
— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 27, 2016
Canada condemns the deplorable bombing in Lahore, Pakistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those killed or injured. #LahoreBlast
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 27, 2016
Pakistanis who think #LahoreBlast is a RAW conspiracy and not a Taliban attack - one day you will realise you are part of the problem
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) March 27, 2016
The world seems to be infested with heartless sick people..heartbreaking news.My prayers to the families of the victims #LahoreBlast
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) March 27, 2016
As long as human values are sidelined in favour of religious or cultural pride,terrible violence will find empty justification #LahoreBlast
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) March 27, 2016
Lahore blast & Islamabad mess rooted in stupid blasphemy law. Our Punjab too blunders on with "life" for Sri Guru Granth Sahib "desecration"
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) March 28, 2016
While #LahoreBlast killed children on Easter, Barelvi protesters were burning down one bus station after another in Islamabad. #ActPakistan
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) March 28, 2016
Earlier Brussels now LahoreBlast What's happening ??Dont know why people r killing innocent kids.Act of cowardice#shame
— Harbhajan Singh (@harbhajan_singh) March 27, 2016
My heartfelt condolences & deepest sympathies to all the families who lost their loved ones & prayers to all those injured #LahoreBlast
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 27, 2016
Can feel Pak's pain but unless it leads to action against terror in all its forms the people of our region will continue to bleed
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) March 27, 2016
Pakistan's people against heinous #LahoreBlast. Shame on those who kill kids playing in park. https://t.co/O2A9Mkw51r
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) March 27, 2016
A childlaughingon a swing,looked on by an adoring motherdied,their crime?being in the wrong placeat the wrong time..#LahoreBlast
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) March 27, 2016
What does a country do when its children are targeted & massacred by its own? What's more numbing? #LahoreAttack pic.twitter.com/7M32NxJ61X
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) March 27, 2016
It's outrageous as to where mankind is heading.... #prayforpeace #LahoreBlast pic.twitter.com/YkV7s7SNND
— irrfan (@irrfan_k) March 27, 2016
Now let's defeat the enemies of humanity. May peace exist in the neighbourhood. Prayers with the innocent victims of #LahoreBlast
— Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) March 27, 2016
INDIA.Time for solidarity. Our brothers and sisters of our neigbours are victims of unsolicited violence. We are with them! No cricket now.
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) March 27, 2016
On a day meant to signify hope, new life and new beginnings! #LahoreBlast https://t.co/2DjZRf12Lo
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) March 27, 2016
It's a park for gods sake!! Children on swings!! How can anybody even have the heart to do this. #LahoreBlast
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) March 27, 2016