Baghdad: A string of bombings targeting Shiites killed 10 people on Saturday around Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.
Police officials said the first attack took place Saturday morning when a bomb exploded near a market in the Shiite section of the town of Mahmoudiya, killing five people and wounding 12. Mahmoudiya is 30 kilometres south of the capital.
Later on Saturday, police said a bomb attached to a mini-bus exploded in the capital’s northeastern suburb of Hussainiyah, killing two passengers and wounding nine.
In eastern Baghdad, police said a bomb blast near food stalls serving Shiites killed three people and wounded eight. They were heading to the Shiite city of Karbala to attend the religious commemoration known as Arbaeen.
Thousands of Shiites are converging on Karbala to mark Arbaeen, the passing of 40 days after the anniversary of the seventh century martyrdom of the revered Shiite saint Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures for the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorised to talk to journalists.
Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but militants frequently attacks Shiites.
