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Suicide Bombers Attack Shiite Pilgrims in Iraq Suicide Bombers Attack Shiite Pilgrims in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Suicide bombers attacked Shiite pilgrims as they marched to shrines during one of their most important religious commemorations, one of a series of attacks on Thursday that the police said killed 31 people. BAGHDAD — Suicide bombers attacked Shiite pilgrims in tents and as they marched to shrines during one of their most important religious commemorations, part of a wave of violence on Thursday that the police said had killed 41 people.
Security forces in Iraq have been taking tougher measures by sealing off roads and increasing checkpoints on routes used by the Shiite pilgrims to visit shrines in southern cities and around the capital Baghdad. The measures are intended to provide greater security during Arbaeen, when many Shiites from Iraq and other countries make an annual trek on foot or by vehicle to the city of Karbala, stopping at roadside tents for food and rest along the way.Security forces in Iraq have been taking tougher measures by sealing off roads and increasing checkpoints on routes used by the Shiite pilgrims to visit shrines in southern cities and around the capital Baghdad. The measures are intended to provide greater security during Arbaeen, when many Shiites from Iraq and other countries make an annual trek on foot or by vehicle to the city of Karbala, stopping at roadside tents for food and rest along the way.
But this week, lone attackers have evaded such controls, using concealed bombs as they infiltrated the crowds of pilgrims or targeting travelers in their vehicles en route to the shrines.But this week, lone attackers have evaded such controls, using concealed bombs as they infiltrated the crowds of pilgrims or targeting travelers in their vehicles en route to the shrines.
Arbaeen, which marks the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, has been marred by deadly attacks in recent years as Iraq struggles with sectarian divisions. Many also fear that violence is spilling over from the war in neighboring Syria, where militants are fighting in an affiliate of Al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.Arbaeen, which marks the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, has been marred by deadly attacks in recent years as Iraq struggles with sectarian divisions. Many also fear that violence is spilling over from the war in neighboring Syria, where militants are fighting in an affiliate of Al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
In one of the attacks on Thursday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives among a group of pilgrims on foot on the main road leading south from Baghdad to Karbala, killing 10 of them and wounding 24, the police said. Another suicide bomber blew himself up on the same road at a tent that had been set up to provide services for the pilgrims, killing 14 and wounding 26, the police said. In one of the attacks on Thursday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives among a group of pilgrims on foot on the main road leading south from Baghdad to Karbala, killing 10 of them and wounding 24, the police said. Another suicide bomber blew himself up at a different spot along the same road, killing 10 and wounding 16. A third suicide bomber blew himself up at a tent that had been set up to provide services for the pilgrims, killing 14 and wounding 26, the police said.
One man who was making the pilgrimage said the pilgrims would not be deterred. “Nothing will stop us from visiting our imam,” said the man, Ali al-Rubayi. “The killers are coming from Syria to kill us. Al-Qaeda wants to form its state, and we will not allow it. We are waiting for our Shiite leaders to give us orders to fight them.”One man who was making the pilgrimage said the pilgrims would not be deterred. “Nothing will stop us from visiting our imam,” said the man, Ali al-Rubayi. “The killers are coming from Syria to kill us. Al-Qaeda wants to form its state, and we will not allow it. We are waiting for our Shiite leaders to give us orders to fight them.”
In other attacks, two soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Mishahda, north of Baghdad, a police source said, and gunmen in military uniform stormed the house of a leader of the Awakening movement in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, killing him and four members of his family, including two children. The Awakening movement is composed of fighters who were paid to side with the United States against Al Qaeda during the Iraq war.In other attacks, two soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Mishahda, north of Baghdad, a police source said, and gunmen in military uniform stormed the house of a leader of the Awakening movement in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, killing him and four members of his family, including two children. The Awakening movement is composed of fighters who were paid to side with the United States against Al Qaeda during the Iraq war.

Christine Hauser contributed reporting from New York City.

Christine Hauser contributed reporting from New York City.