Blast kills 5 Shiite pilgrims, wounds 15 in northeastern Iraq during religious observance

Bomb kills 5 Shiite pilgrims in northeastern Iraq

BAGHDAD — Iraqi authorities say a blast has killed five pilgrims and wounded 15 in northeastern Iraq during a Shiite religious observance.

A police official says Sunday morning’s bomb exploded in Tuz Khormato, north of Baghdad, as pilgrims were gathering to mark the last day of Ashoura. A medical official confirmed the casualties.

The attack comes at the climax of a 10-day mourning period for Shiites marking the 7th Century death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.

Pilgrims have come under repeated attack by insurgents seeking to re-ignite sectarian violence that brought the country to the brink of civil war two years ago.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.