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Bombings kill Shias in Iraq cities of Hilla and Karbala | Bombings kill Shias in Iraq cities of Hilla and Karbala |
(about 11 hours later) | |
At least 33 people have been killed in bomb attacks on predominantly Shia Muslim areas south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials say. | At least 33 people have been killed in bomb attacks on predominantly Shia Muslim areas south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, officials say. |
A double bombing in the city of Hilla killed 28 people and wounded scores more. | A double bombing in the city of Hilla killed 28 people and wounded scores more. |
A car bomb also exploded in the nearby shrine city of Karbala, killing at least five people. | A car bomb also exploded in the nearby shrine city of Karbala, killing at least five people. |
No group has said it carried out the attacks but Sunni militants have targeted the Shia majority in the past. | No group has said it carried out the attacks but Sunni militants have targeted the Shia majority in the past. |
Pilgrims flock to Karbala each year for Ashura commemorations, the climax of the holy month of Muharram. | Pilgrims flock to Karbala each year for Ashura commemorations, the climax of the holy month of Muharram. |
The two bombs in Hilla exploded in a busy commercial area. | The two bombs in Hilla exploded in a busy commercial area. |
Local shop owner Ali al-Khafaji said the first explosion was near a restaurant which had set up a tent serving food to Shia pilgrims, and was followed by another blast when emergency personnel arrived at the scene. | Local shop owner Ali al-Khafaji said the first explosion was near a restaurant which had set up a tent serving food to Shia pilgrims, and was followed by another blast when emergency personnel arrived at the scene. |
The dead included two women, three children, two medics and a civil defence organisation member, police and medics said. | The dead included two women, three children, two medics and a civil defence organisation member, police and medics said. |
"We started to stop civilian cars asking them to take the wounded to hospital since there were not enough ambulances to transfer them," said Ihsan al-Khalidi, a schoolteacher who was near the scene. | "We started to stop civilian cars asking them to take the wounded to hospital since there were not enough ambulances to transfer them," said Ihsan al-Khalidi, a schoolteacher who was near the scene. |
Iraqi security forces cordoned off the area of the blasts and set up checkpoints in the city. | Iraqi security forces cordoned off the area of the blasts and set up checkpoints in the city. |
In Karbala, a parked car exploded near one of the city gates, a police officer quoted by AP news agency said. | In Karbala, a parked car exploded near one of the city gates, a police officer quoted by AP news agency said. |
Those who died were civilians but policemen were among more than 20 wounded, he added. The blast also damaged nearby buildings. | Those who died were civilians but policemen were among more than 20 wounded, he added. The blast also damaged nearby buildings. |
A recent upsurge in such attacks has sparked fears of a return to the sectarian conflict that beset Iraq in the years after the 2003 US-led invasion. | A recent upsurge in such attacks has sparked fears of a return to the sectarian conflict that beset Iraq in the years after the 2003 US-led invasion. |
Last month twin bomb attacks in Baghdad's mainly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City killed at least 13 people. | Last month twin bomb attacks in Baghdad's mainly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City killed at least 13 people. |
In August, more than 90 people died in a wave of attacks before Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. | In August, more than 90 people died in a wave of attacks before Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. |
Security forces were also targeted by insurgents on Thursday. | Security forces were also targeted by insurgents on Thursday. |
A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint in the mainly Sunni Muslim city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, killing three policemen and wounding 11 others, police said. | A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint in the mainly Sunni Muslim city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, killing three policemen and wounding 11 others, police said. |
In the northern city of Mosul, a parked car bomb went off as a police patrol passed, killing a policeman and a civilian. | In the northern city of Mosul, a parked car bomb went off as a police patrol passed, killing a policeman and a civilian. |