Blast at Pakistan Mosque Kills 7

A suicide bomber fired gunshots then blew himself up at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least seven people and injuring 20 others, authorities and witnesses said.

The blast came as minority Shiite Muslims prepared to mark the Ashoura festival, which is often marred by sectarian violence involving rival Sunnis.

Arshad Ali, whose brother died in the blast, said the attacker was a man aged about 18 who walked into the crowded Imambargah Qasim Baig mosque, opened fire with a pistol and then blew himself up.

"People present there tried to stop him. He took out a pistol, shot three times and then blew himself up," Ali said, wailing and beating his chest in grief.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the dead or wounded were hit by the gunfire.

Peshawar police chief Tanvir Sipra said seven people including one policeman who tried to stop the bomber from entering the mosque were killed and a few policewomen were among the wounded.