Pakistani officials say a Taliban suicide bomber has killed 23 people near the capital, Islamabad.

Authorities said Thursday the bomber blew himself at Shi'ite Muslim march in the city of Rawalpindi after police tried to stop him for a security check. The blast wounded at least 62 others, including several children.

Earlier Wednesday, a Taliban bombing near a Shi'ite mosque in Karachi killed at least one person.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for both attacks, saying they terrorist group was targeting Shi'ites because it believes they are “blasphemers.”

Shi'ite Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Muharram and on Saturday will observe the holiest day of the month, Ashura. The holy day commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the seventh century.