This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/taliban-faction-in-pakistan-releases-photo-of-alleged-suicide-bomber/2016/03/29/5a7dbdb2-f54e-11e5-958d-d038dac6e718_story.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Taliban faction in Pakistan releases photo of alleged suicide bomber Taliban faction in Pakistan releases photo of alleged suicide bomber
(35 minutes later)
LAHORE, Pakistan — The hardline Taliban faction that claimed responsibility for an Easter suicide bomb attack in Lahore released a photo of the alleged suicide bomber Tuesday, as the Pakistan officials said they had arrested more than 200 people in a campaign to ferret out extremists in the southern part of the country. LAHORE, Pakistan — The hard-line Taliban faction that claimed responsibility for an Easter suicide-bomb attack here released a photo of the alleged bomber Tuesday, as Pakistan officials said they had arrested more than 200 people in a campaign to ferret out extremists in the southern part of the country.
The suicide bomber, a man identified by the terror group Jamaat ul-Ahrar as Salahuddin Khorasani, donned a vest loaded with explosives and ball bearings and blew himself up in a park crowded with people Sunday evening, killing at least 70 people, including 29 children. The suicide bomber, a man identified by the terrorist group Jamaat ul-Ahrar as Salahuddin Khorasani, donned a vest loaded with explosives and ball bearings and blew himself up in a park crowded with people Sunday evening, killing at least 70 people, including 29 children.
The terror group issued a statement that said that Khorasani "has carried out the attack on the eve of Christian festival Easter on March 27, 2016 as per his will. He has gifted his life to Allah." A video would be forthcoming, the group said. The terrorist group, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, issued a statement that said that Khorasani “has carried out the attack on the eve of Christian festival Easter on March 27, 2016 as per his will. He has gifted his life to Allah.” A video is forthcoming, the group said.
Officials from Punjab, the province where Lahore is located, said at a news conference Tuesday that a joint force of military and police officers had arrested more than 200 suspected extremists in a sweep targeting militants throughout Punjab, and the area's 13,000 religious seminaries remain under surveillance. Police said they were awaiting the results of DNA tests to officially identify the suicide bomber. Officials from Punjab, the province where Lahore is located, said at a news conference Tuesday that a joint force of military and police officers arrested more than 200 suspected extremists in a sweep targeting militants throughout Punjab and said that the area’s 13,000 religious seminaries remain under surveillance. Police said they were awaiting the results of DNA tests to officially identify the suicide bomber.
Even after a week of terrorist violence in Iraq, Turkey and Belgium, the attack in Lahore has became a focus of global consternation. It was the country’s second major terrorist attack this year and the deadliest in Pakistan since nearly 150 people were killed at a school in Peshawar in late 2014, a shock to the nation. That was followed by a relatively peaceful 2015. With this attack and an earlier assault on a university, the period of relative calm now seems to be over. Even after a week of terrorist violence in Iraq, Turkey and Belgium, the attack in Lahore has become a focus of global consternation. It was the country’s second major terrorist attack this year and the deadliest in Pakistan since nearly 150 people were killed at a school in Peshawar in late 2014. That year was followed by a relatively peaceful 2015. With this attack and an earlier assault on a university, the period of relative calm now seems to be over.
Pakistan's military had said Monday they arrested a “number of terrorist suspects and facilitators” in at least five separate raids in cities across Punjab province, according to Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, an army spokesman. ­Bajwa also said that “a huge cache of arms and ammunition” was recovered in the operations, but he did not say where the weapons stockpile was found. Pakistan’s military said Monday they arrested a “number of terrorist suspects and facilitators” in at least five separate raids in cities across Punjab, according to Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, an army spokesman. ­Bajwa also said that “a huge cache of arms and ammunition” was recovered in the operations, but he did not say where the weapons stockpile was found.
[An Easter suicide bombing shows plight of Pakistan’s Christians][An Easter suicide bombing shows plight of Pakistan’s Christians]
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a televised address Monday night that Pakistan will not allow militants "to raise their heads again." He had earlier cancelled a trip to Washington and visited the wounded at a hospital Monday. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in a televised address Monday night that Pakistan will not allow militants “to raise their heads again.” He earlier canceled a trip to Washington and visited the wounded at a hospital Monday.
Lahore, Pakistan's cultural center, remained in a period of official mourning, with schools and markets closed and little traffic. The tragedy drew condemnation from the U.S. and governments around the world, including the Vatican, where Pope Francis on Monday decried the Easter bombing as “vile and abominable.” The pope called for Pakistan’s religious minorities to be protected. He urged authorities in Pakistan to “make every effort to restore security and serenity” to Pakistanis. Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural center, remained in a period of official mourning, with schools and markets closed and little traffic. The tragedy drew condemnation from the United States and other governments around the world, including the Vatican, where Pope Francis on Monday decried the Easter bombing as “vile and abominable.” The pope called for Pakistan’s religious minorities to be protected. He urged authorities in Pakistan to “make every effort to restore security and serenity” to Pakistanis.
Pakistani authorities noted that more Muslims than Christians were killed and injured. Of those who died at the scene, 14 were Christian, 44 were Muslim, and nine could not immediately be identified, according to Muhammad Iqbal, the superintendent of police for operations in Lahore. Authorities in Pakistan noted that more Muslims than Christians were killed and injured. Of those who died at the scene, 14 were Christian, 44 were Muslim, and nine could not immediately be identified, according to Muhammad Iqbal, the superintendent of police for operations in Lahore.
Pakistan, a country of 190 million, has suffered for years from sectarian violence and Islamist militancy, including a Taliban-led insurgency in the tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. Critics have long said that Pakistan, while launching a major assault to push extremists out of their strongholds in the country's federally administered tribal areas, has appeased other terror groups, particularly in the country's south. Pakistan, a country of 190 million, has suffered for years from sectarian violence and Islamist militancy, including a Taliban-led insurgency in the tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan. Critics have long said that Pakistan, while launching a major assault to push extremists out of their strongholds in the country’s federally administered tribal areas, has appeased other terrorist groups, particularly in the country’s south.
Recent terrorist attacks targeting minorities and schools have left many ordinary Pakistanis scared and on edge. Recent terrorist attacks targeting minorities and schools have left many ordinary Pakistanis on edge.
“This shouldn’t be happening,” said Rani Farzand, a teacher and neighbor of an 8-year-old girl who died in the blast. “The kids are not safe in the parks, in the schools, in the mosques. Where should we send our children? What should we do?”“This shouldn’t be happening,” said Rani Farzand, a teacher and neighbor of an 8-year-old girl who died in the blast. “The kids are not safe in the parks, in the schools, in the mosques. Where should we send our children? What should we do?”
On Monday, little remained of the carnage at the scene at Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, a leafy oasis in Pakistan’s second-largest city. On Monday, little remained of the carnage at the scene at Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, an oasis in Pakistan’s second-largest city.
Police had cordoned off the bloodstained area between a fountain and a bumper-car ride in the small children’s amusement section where the bomb exploded. Objects were left like small grace notes — a jeweled sandal, mangled reading glasses, a child’s shoe. Police had cordoned off the bloodstained area between a fountain and a bumper-car ride in the children’s amusement section where the bomb exploded. Objects were left like small grace notes — a jeweled sandal, mangled reading glasses, a child’s shoe.
At Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, where about half of the more than 300 injured were taken Sunday night, 67 remained hospitalized with a variety of injuries, including burns and shrapnel wounds, doctors said. Politicians and TV anchors weaved among through the beds, where occupants were labeled “blast victim.”At Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, where about half of the more than 300 injured were taken Sunday night, 67 remained hospitalized with a variety of injuries, including burns and shrapnel wounds, doctors said. Politicians and TV anchors weaved among through the beds, where occupants were labeled “blast victim.”
Among them were two small children, their beds marked with signs saying “unknown.” Their family died in the blast, and they had yet to be linked with other relatives.Among them were two small children, their beds marked with signs saying “unknown.” Their family died in the blast, and they had yet to be linked with other relatives.
Some were clearly still in shock. Zeeshan Taaj, 23, had been walking through the park on his way back from a pickup cricket match when the bomb detonated. He injured his leg in the aftermath and is trying to come to terms with what he saw: “Fire and smoke,” he said. “I have seen chopped legs blown off, heads and dead bodies scattered all around me.”Some were clearly still in shock. Zeeshan Taaj, 23, had been walking through the park on his way back from a pickup cricket match when the bomb detonated. He injured his leg in the aftermath and is trying to come to terms with what he saw: “Fire and smoke,” he said. “I have seen chopped legs blown off, heads and dead bodies scattered all around me.”
A friend tried to comfort him by tucking a sheet around his still-bloodied leg wound.A friend tried to comfort him by tucking a sheet around his still-bloodied leg wound.
[A ‘bulletproof’ cross rises in Karachi][A ‘bulletproof’ cross rises in Karachi]
In another bed, Tasleem Sultan, 40, described how she and four other adult family members took eight children to the kiddie amusement park Sunday night and found it bustling on the warm evening. Her niece, Zainab, 8, had donned her best red dress and put flower-shaped barrettes in her hair for the occasion. She rode an elephant on the merry-go-round. She was holding her aunt’s hand when the force of the explosion separated them.In another bed, Tasleem Sultan, 40, described how she and four other adult family members took eight children to the kiddie amusement park Sunday night and found it bustling on the warm evening. Her niece, Zainab, 8, had donned her best red dress and put flower-shaped barrettes in her hair for the occasion. She rode an elephant on the merry-go-round. She was holding her aunt’s hand when the force of the explosion separated them.
Later, her father found Zainab, bleeding and lifeless.Later, her father found Zainab, bleeding and lifeless.
“I was weeping. I am still in shock,” Jamshaid Iqbal, 35, said in an interview at his family home after her funeral. “Why isn’t the government protecting us?”“I was weeping. I am still in shock,” Jamshaid Iqbal, 35, said in an interview at his family home after her funeral. “Why isn’t the government protecting us?”
[Pakistan’s Christians fear growing isolation and threats][Pakistan’s Christians fear growing isolation and threats]
In Islamabad on Monday, thousands of Muslim demonstrators protesting the execution of Islamist assassin Mumtaz Qadri staged a sit-in inside the capital city’s “Red Zone,” which is home to a number of vital government institutions, including Parliament and the prime minister’s house. Qadri assassinated Punjab’s governor, Salman Taseer, in 2011 over the latter’s opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.In Islamabad on Monday, thousands of Muslim demonstrators protesting the execution of Islamist assassin Mumtaz Qadri staged a sit-in inside the capital city’s “Red Zone,” which is home to a number of vital government institutions, including Parliament and the prime minister’s house. Qadri assassinated Punjab’s governor, Salman Taseer, in 2011 over the latter’s opposition to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
Most blasphemy cases are lodged against non-Muslims for violations such as desecrating the Koran, Islam’s holy book, according to rights monitors. The army was deployed Sunday night to protect government buildings after the protesters rampaged across the city, damaging property and setting buildings on fire.Most blasphemy cases are lodged against non-Muslims for violations such as desecrating the Koran, Islam’s holy book, according to rights monitors. The army was deployed Sunday night to protect government buildings after the protesters rampaged across the city, damaging property and setting buildings on fire.
Erin Cunningham in Kabul, Babar Dogar in Lahore, and Haq Nawaz Khan and Aamir Iqbal in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.Erin Cunningham in Kabul, Babar Dogar in Lahore, and Haq Nawaz Khan and Aamir Iqbal in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.