Qatar residents express condolences for Lahore blast victims

Updated at 12:12pm with Qatar’s condemnation

Many in Qatar are sending well wishes and sympathy to Pakistan today after a deadly blast in a park killed dozens of people, mostly women and children.

According to the latest media reports, at least 70 people have been killed and more than 300 injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Taliban in Pakistan, which said it intended to target Christians celebrating Easter Sunday.

Also this month, militant groups such as ISIS killed dozens of people in bomb blasts in Belgium, Iraq and Turkey.

Qatar has condemned the Pakistan attacks, saying in a statement that “such criminal acts that target innocent lives do not represent Islam or its principles of tolerance and (moderation).”

And yesterday, in response to a bombing that recently killed children playing football in Iraq, the foreign ministry “stressed the need for concerted efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate this dangerous scourge,” QNA reports.

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Speaking to Doha News, a Pakistani embassy in Doha representative said this most recent bombing came “as a very big shock.”

He added that the embassy may open a book of condolences sometime this week.

The latest attack also spurred an outpouring of support from Qatar residents for people in Pakistan, as well as raised questions about safety and human value.

Saddened and heartbroken to see the merciless attack, it's tragic. Thoughts & sympathies with the families #LahoreBlast

— Ashraf Imran (@ashrafimrann) March 27, 2016