Suicide blast in northern Pakistan kills 4 women

At least four women were killed and three others were wounded in a suicide blast in northern Pakistani province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, police said. According to a senior police official SSP Najeeb, a police raid was conducted in Essa Khel area of provincial capital Peshawar city upon receiving information regarding the presence of suspicious persons. He further said that during the operation, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the house killing at least four women and wounding three others. There were a few women present at the neighbor of the house where a "Quran khawani" -- recitation of verses for a deceased soul -- was underway at the time of explosion, said police officials.