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Female bomber kills Iraq pilgrims | |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 16 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Shia pilgrims in north-east Baghdad, police say. | |
A woman detonated her explosives vest among a group of pilgrims making the journey to Karbala, 80km from Baghdad. | |
At least 38 other pilgrims were hurt in the attack. Troops and police are on alert during the pilgrimage. | |
The pilgrims were marking Arbaeen, the end of 40 days of mourning for the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson. The festival culminates on Friday. | |
Security has also been increased around the shrine of the revered Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala during the annual festival. | |
In recent years the pilgrimage has been the target of similar attacks, blamed on Sunni extremists. | In recent years the pilgrimage has been the target of similar attacks, blamed on Sunni extremists. |
Twelve months ago, 32 pilgrims were killed by a female suicide bomber near Baghdad. | |
The attack comes amid heightened tension between Sunni and Shia groups ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March. |