Pakistan explosion leaves many dead at Lahore park

• 27 March 2016
 
• From the sectionAsia

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionThe blast in Lahore happened in the early evening

At least 69 people have been killed and scores injured in an explosion at a public park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, officials say.

The park was crowded with families, some celebrating Easter. Many victims are said to be women and children.

Police told the BBC it appeared to be a suicide bomb. A Pakistan Taliban faction said it carried out the attack.

Pakistan's president has condemned the blast and the regional government has announced three days of mourning.

All the major hospitals in the area were put on an emergency footing after the blast early on Sunday evening.

The explosion appears to have been at the main gate to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in an area where cars are usually left - and a short distance from the children's swings.

One eyewitness said there was chaos, with a stampede starting and children separated from their parents in the rush to escape.

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionDozens of ambulances raced to Gulshan-e-Iqbal park but for many it was too late

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionLarge numbers of people have been injured, and many are said to be in a serious condition

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionMany families had gone to the park

Another man told Pakistan's Geo TV station he was heading towards a fairground ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor.

Hasan Imran, 30, a local resident who had gone to the park for a walk told Reuters: "When the blast occurred, the flames were so high they reached above the trees and I saw bodies flying in the air."

The agency also reported that the army was called in to control crowds outside the park.

According to Lahore's deputy commissioner, Mohammad Usman, the number of injured was 193.

Facebook has activated its feature for people in Lahore to mark themselves as safe, as news of the blast spread.