At least 69 killed by suicide blast in Pakistan's Lahore

Lahore, (IINA) - A suicide bombing in a crowded park in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday evening killed at least 69 people and injured 300 others, said Salman Rafiq, health minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province.
According to police, the bomber detonated his explosive vest in a crowded area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, located in a northern district of Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city and the regional capital of Punjab province.
In a statement, Jamaat ul-Ahrar, a group affiliated with Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing -- an unusual occurrence in an otherwise peaceful part of the country. The group's spokesman, Ihsanullah Ihsan, said the target of the attack was an Easter celebration.
Footage broadcast on local television channels showed rescue workers and concerned citizens loading the dead and injured onto ambulances.
For its part, the government has declared a state of emergency at the city’s hospitals while doctors predict a dramatic rise in the current death toll.
The army was also called up to assist in first aid and rescue efforts.
Army chief presided over an emergency meeting after the blast, reportedly directing intelligence agencies to speed up efforts to dismantle the networks involved in the terrorist attack. He vowed that the culprits involved in the attack will be brought to justice.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack, vowing to continue Pakistan’s war on terrorism "despite these cowardly acts".
The premier has also cancelled a visit to the U.K. after the Lahore blast. He is expected to travel to the U.S on Tuesday to participate in a nuclear security conference.
AG/IINA

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