HistoryData
war2016

2016 Lahore suicide bombing — suicide bombing which occurred on 27 March 2016

March 27, 2016

A suicide bombing at a Lahore park on Easter Sunday 2016 killed at least 75 people, mostly women and children, in one of Pakistan's deadliest terrorist attacks.

Quick Facts

Year
2016
Category
war

Key Facts

Date
27 March 2016 (Easter Sunday)
Deaths
At least 75, including 29 children
Injured
Over 340
Location
Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park entrance, Lahore
Perpetrator
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (Pakistani Taliban affiliate)
Arrests after attack
More than 200

By the Numbers

27
Date
75
Deaths
340
Injured
200
Arrests after attack

Location

Map of Lahore, PakistanMap of Lahore, PakistanLahore, Pakistan

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban, targeted Christian celebrations of Easter Sunday at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore, one of the largest public parks in the city, reflecting the group's ongoing campaign of sectarian and anti-minority violence in Pakistan.

Event

On 27 March 2016, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main entrance of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, killing at least 75 people — 29 of them children — and wounding more than 340 others. The majority of victims were women and children who had gathered to celebrate Easter, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.

Consequence

The bombing drew worldwide condemnation and prompted national mourning across Pakistan. In response, Pakistani authorities launched a major counter-terrorism operation in South Punjab, detaining more than 200 individuals suspected of connections to the attack, and intensifying scrutiny of militant networks in the region.

Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis

Side A

1 belligerent

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (Pakistani Taliban affiliate)

Side B

1 belligerent

Civilians / Pakistani state
Estimated Casualties75
Total Casualties (all sides)
75
Outcome
Suicide bombing killed at least 75; Pakistan launched counter-terrorism sweep arresting 200+ suspects in South Punjab.

Timeline Context

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