15 Afghan Pilgrims Killed in Iraq Bombings

According to Iraqi medical and security officials, some 15 Afghan pilgrims were wounded in a car bomb attack while they were on their way to the Shia holy cities situated in central Iraq. A police officer in the province said that the car bombing which struck west of the city of Hilla, had targeted a group of pilgrims that were waiting near a garage just after midnight. A doctor at the Hilla hospital named Mohammad al-Shammari, said that they had received 15 wounded persons, including the three people who got seriously hurt by the explosion. The police officer speaking on the condition of anonymity also gave the same death toll.

The holy cities of Najaf and Karbala are flocked by Shias all around the world. For the festival of Arbaeen, there is a huge rise in their numbers. This festival marks the 40 days after the Ashura, which is the commemoration of the death anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). Hussein is one of the most revered Shia Imams who was killed by the Syrian army of Yazid in 680 AD.

On Thursday violent attacks targeting Shias in the capital Baghdad and southern Iraq resulted in the killings of 70 people and wounding more than 100 people. Since August last year this turned out to be the bloodiest day for Iraq.

**********************************************

The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of this Web-Site or its agents, affiliates, officers, directors, staff, or contractors. The author at the time of this article did not own any shares or receive any consideration financial or otherwise from any company or person mentioned or referred to in the article.

Tags: Attacks, Bomb, Imam Hussein, Iraq, Killings, Shias