Bomb blast kills 65, injures 280 in Pakistan’s Lahore

A bomb explosion outside a park in the city of Lahore in northeastern Pakistan has killed at least 65 people and injured 280 others, mostly women and children, officials say.

"Many [of the injured] are in operation theaters now being treated and we fear that the death toll may climb considerably", Salman Rafiq, a health adviser to the chief minister of Punjab Province said.

According to Press TV, a faction of Taliban, which calls itself Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Ahsanullah Ahsan, a spokesperson for the group said, “We want to send this message to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that we have entered Lahore. He can do what he wants but he won't be able to stop us. Our suicide bombers will continue these attacks.” "The target was Christians," he said.

Mustansar Feroz, police superintendent for the area in which the park is located, said most of the injured and dead were women and children.

Local Police Chief Haider Ashraf said the area was crowded with Christians celebrating the Easter holidays, and many families were leaving the park when the blast occurred.

Ashraf said ball bearings had been used in the explosive.

Muhammad Usman, a top administration official, said the army had been called in on the scene to control crowds outside the park. Some distraught, sobbing relatives clashed with police and rescue officials.

ME