Nation hunts militants behind blast that killed 72

China is 'greatly shocked by' and condemns brutal terrorist attack

Pakistani authorities hunted for breakaway Taliban militants who once declared loyalty to Islamic State on Monday after the group claimed responsibility for an Easter suicide bomb targeting Christians, that killed at least 72 people.

China is "greatly shocked by" and "condemned the brutal attack in the strongest possible terms", Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday. He also expressed condolences for the victims and their families. The attack on Sunday evening in a busy park in the eastern city of Lahore, the power base of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, killed mostly women and children enjoying an Easter weekend outing. Pakistan is a majority-Muslim state but has a Christian population of more than 2 million.