Over 50 killed in suicide blast in crowded park in Lahore

The explosion occurred at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, where the crowd was 'unusually large' because of Easter

At least 53 people, including children, were killed today, as a powerful blast triggered by a suicide bomber ripped through a crowded public park in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province.

The explosion occurred at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in a posh locality near the city's centre.

Eyewitnesses said there were pools of blood and scattered body parts in the park, where a large number of families, especially women and children, were present on a Sunday evening.

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The crowd was "unusually large" because of Easter, an eyewitness was quoted as saying by the Dawn.

Iqbal Town Superintendent of Police Muhammad Iqbal said that the explosion was a suicide attack.

There was no security present in and around the park, the report said.

Rescue officials and police rushed to the explosion site in a renowned residential area of Lahore.

An emergency has been declared at all government hospitals in the city, and a heavy contingent of police has cordoned off the area.