Taliban splinter group claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Pakistan

A splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday that killed at least 65 people and injured more than 300, many critically.

Ahshanullah Ahsan, spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told The Associated Press the bomber deliberately targeted Christians. The attack took place near children's rides at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, police chief Haider Ashraf said, where many Christians were celebrating Easter.

Area residents are being asked to donate blood for the wounded, and Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab's chief minister, declared three days of mourning and vowed to bring those responsible for the carnage to justice. Ashraf said that no specific threats were made against the park, but there are always police officers and private security guards on the grounds because "we are in a warlike situation and there is always a general threat."

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