Dozens of Christian men, women and children slaughtered in Pakistan bomb blast

Rescue workers move a body from the site of the blast outside the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in Lahore. Reuters

More than 65 people have been murdered and about 300 more injured in a bomb blast in a public park in Pakistan.

Most of the dead and injured are believed to be Christian women and children.

The blast took place a few yards from a packed children's playground, in the car parking area of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in Lahore, Punjab province, where hundreds of Christian families had gathered to celebrate Easter. A Taliban group has claimed responsibility.

The Punjab is the political base of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Salman Rafique, a Punjab government health adviser, said many of the injured were in critical condition.

 Police superintendent Mustansar Feroz told Reuters: "Most of the dead and injured are women and children." 

The BBC reported scenes of chaos as terrified adults and children tried to flee the park.

One man told Geo TV in Pakistan that he had been going towards a ride with his wife and two children when they were thrown to the floor by the huge blast.

Another local resident, Hasan Imran, who was walking in the park, told Reuters: "When the blast occurred, the flames were so high they reached above the trees and I saw bodies flying in the air."

Security officials at the site of the blast Reuters

The Punjab government immediately ordered the closure of public parks and three days of mourning. Shops were shut and the army called in for crowd control.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted:

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tweeted:

Christians in Lahore have been targeted in previous attacks. In March last year, two bombs killed 15 and injured 70 at two churches in Youhanabad. There was also an attack in 2013 on a church in Peshawar.

related articles
Christians under increasing pressure in Pakistan

Christians under increasing pressure in Pakistan

Pakistan: Violent protests erupt after church bombings
Pakistan: Violent protests erupt after church bombings

Pakistan: Violent protests erupt after church bombings

Pakistani Archbishop: Prime Minister has failed to protect Christians
Pakistani Archbishop: Prime Minister has failed to protect Christians

Pakistani Archbishop: Prime Minister has failed to protect Christians

Pakistan: Church planters receive death threats as religious persecution increases
Pakistan: Church planters receive death threats as religious persecution increases

Pakistan: Church planters receive death threats as religious persecution increases

Pakistan: Anti-Christian violence erupts in Lahore after alleged Quran burning
Pakistan: Anti-Christian violence erupts in Lahore after alleged Quran burning

Pakistan: Anti-Christian violence erupts in Lahore after alleged Quran burning

News
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide
Christians redouble efforts to stop assisted suicide

Christians are doubling down on efforts to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in England and Wales after Kim Leadbeater's bill was debated in Westminster on Friday. 

Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign
Christian leaders unite in Westminster to kick off 2025 ‘Shine Your Light’ evangelism campaign

More than 100 Christian leaders recently came together at a parliamentary reception in London for the launch of Shine Your Light 2025 — a bold evangelistic initiative aiming to bring the message of Christ to streets, neighbourhoods, and marketplaces across the UK.

Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling
Darlington nurses still waiting for single-sex changing space despite Supreme Court ruling

An NHS trust has been accused of continually flouting the law around women’s rights by requiring female nurses to get changed in front of a biologically male nurse who goes by the name of “Rose”. 

CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017
CofE mission funding has brought in 37,000 people since 2017

The Church of England is happy with the progress being made by strategic mission and ministry investments.