Christians celebrating Easter targeted by terrorists in Pakistan

Over 70 people – many of whom are Christian – have been killed by a suicide bomber in a park in Lahore, Pakistan.

A splinter group of the Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility for the attack which specifically targeted Christians celebrating Easter.

The bomber blew himself up near an entrance to Gulshan-e- Iqbal Park close to a children’s play area on Sunday evening as large crowds gathered with friends and family.

A spokesman for the group, Ehsanullah Ehsan, told the Guardian: “We have carried out this attack to target the Christians who were celebrating Easter. Also this is a message to the Pakistani prime minister that we have arrived in Punjab [the ruling party’s home province].” 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has introduced programmes that focus on the empowerment of women, which some conservatives have disliked.

An emergency was declared in the city’s hospitals and an appeal for blood donations made. Many family members were still looking for their loved ones late into the night.

Police said ball bearings were used in the bomb, which weighed around 20 kilograms. UCAN news reported that among the dead are 29 children and seven women, and the death toll is expected to rise.

Many Christians have criticised the government for not doing enough to protect them, saying politicians are not taking steps to improve security.

Fr Morris Jalal, the founder and programme director of Lahore-based Catholic TV, expressed grief over the attack, which also left over 300 people injured. "This is very, very sad, we can't do anything but pray and condemn what is happening around us," the priest told UCAN News.

Pakistan's president condemned the attack, and the regional government has announced three days of mourning. Pope Francis on Easter Monday criticised the attack in strong language and called for the Pakistani Government to better protect Christians.

An eyewitness - local resident, Ghulam Asghar - told UCAN News: "I was almost deafened, there were bodies everywhere. The deaths are more than the official toll. I was entering the park with my six kids when the explosion occurred."

According to the Asian news agency, initial investigations have identified the bomber as Yousaf Freed, a 28-year-old who resided at a madrassa (Islamic seminary) in Lahore. Out of security concerns, all markets in the Punjab capital were closed from 28 March while the city's parks have been closed indefinitely.

Christians make up 1.6% of the population in Pakistan and are the country’s second largest minority after Hindus.

Attacks on Christians and Christian institutions have increased in recent years, the deadliest was in 2013 when two bombs left 80 people dead at a Peshawar church.