State Department spokesman John Kirby said Monday that his department at this point believes the Pakistan bombing that killed 70 people was orchestrated by the Islamic State, and was aimed at Christians celebrating Easter Sunday.
State didn’t mention that as a possible motive on Sunday when the event occurred, but Kirby said that’s because less was known when it happened. But he said State now sees it as an act against Christians.
“We have no indications that their claims of responsibility are false,” he said of the Islamic State’s claim and purported reasoning for the attack. “Therefore I have no indications that the motivation that they claim was the reason is also false. But this is all going to be investigated by Pakistanis.”
Kirby said as of Monday afternoon, “we don’t have the fidelity of information to actually confirm overtly that that was in fact the case.”
But he also added, “it certainly appears to have been the case.”
The attack was a suicide bombing in Lahore, and it killed mostly women and children.
“The United States stands with the people and Government of Pakistan at this difficult hour,” State said in a brief statement on Sunday. “We send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Lahore as they respond to and recover from this terrible tragedy.”
