Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has joined world leaders in condemning a deadly bombing in the Pakistani city of Lahore, reported to have killed at least 65 people and been orchestrated by a local Taliban offshoot.
The bomb was detonated on Easter Sunday in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, and is likely to have killed a large number of children. While the Taliban offshoot Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has said the attack was intended to target Christians, Lahore’s population is close to 95 per cent Muslim.
In a tweet sent this morning, Turnbull offered condolences and solidarity with the people of Lahore.
Australia condemns the terrorist attacks in Lahore. Our condolences, prayers & solidarity are with the victims & their family & friends.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 27, 2016
In the Americas, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did likewise.
Canada condemns the deplorable bombing in Lahore, Pakistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those killed or injured. #LahoreBlast — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 27, 2016
To Trudeau’s south, Donald Trump, who leads the race to represent the Republican Party at the next Presidential election, also shared his thoughts on twitter. “Another radical Islamic attack, this time in Pakistan, targeting Christian women & children. At least 67 dead, 400 injured. I alone can solve,” the likely Presidential candidate wrote.
The incident has again raised fresh questions about the dual standards in media coverage afforded to terror incidents that occur in Western and non-Western nations, coming a week after blasts in Brussels Airport and the Maelbeek metro station killed at least 31.
Not that everyone was feeling particularly appreciative of Trump’s decision to draw attention to the issue and himself.
@realDonaldTrump you, alone, should shut your hole. moron.
— Game of Thornes (@GeoffThorne) March 27, 2016
Though keen to record his dismay at the Brussels attacks, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was yet to say anything about the Lahore killings at the time of publication.
A dreadful atrocity. Killing people in the name of of God is simply evil. All our thoughts and prayers must be with the people of Brussels.
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) March 22, 2016
