Suicide Attack Kills 72 in the Pakistani city of Lahore

At least 72 people were killed and more than 320 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself

At least 72 people were killed and more than 320 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy park in Lahore on Sunday, officials said.

“Mostly women and children were killed and injured in the blast,” Lahore Police Chief Haider Ashraf said, adding, “the suicide bomber chose a soft target and that’s why went towards women and children in the park.”

Many of the victims had lined up to buy tickets for a train ride when the blast occurred. The dead included 36 kids.

Speaking at the mortuary, rescue worker Pervez Nazir told NBC News that the dead included 36 children. Only 10 were Christian, with the other 26 Muslims.

Media footage showed children and women crying and screaming and rescue officials, police and bystanders carrying injured people to ambulances and private cars.

Officials said they had recovered the suicide bomber’s body. ‎He appeared to be aged in his mid-to-late 20s. Police said he had carried more than 30 pounds of explosives.

It was the deadliest attack in Pakistan since the December 2014 massacre of 134 school children at a military run academy in the city of Peshawar that prompted a major government crackdown on Islamist militancy.