According to CNN, a deadly Easter Sunday bombing that took place in a park in Lahore, Pakistan specifically targeted Christians.
Security forces raided locations in three cities overnight and arrested suspected terrorists who might have played a role in the bombing. Punjab province Chief Secretary Khizer Hyat provided an update this morning [Monday, March 28] finding at least 72 individuals killed so far (24 children) and 341 injured.
The overnight raided locations across Pakistan included the province of Punjab with Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamat-ul-Ahrar, took responsibility for the attack confirming the Christian target.
The religious group makes up only two percent of the population and tensions with the Muslim majority are high against the desired strict Islamic ruling based legal system.
The deputy commissioner of police said after the explosion that there were many dead bodies and civilians left in critical condition, along with Lahore’s parks remaining closed for security reason.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, denounced the terrorist attack, saying the goal now is to eliminate terror communications and the radical mindset.
