27 killed, 75 injured in Iraq bombings (Lead, changing dateline)
By IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
BAGHDAD - Twenty-seven people were killed and 75 injured Friday in two car bomb attacks on Shia pilgrims in Iraq’s holy city of Karbala, the interior ministry said.
The bombs went off simultaneously on a bridge in eastern Karbala, 80 km south of Baghdad, an interior ministry source told Xinhua.
The cars, packed with explosives, were parked at the two ends of the bridge, the official said, requesting anonymity.
The attacks took place as hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims are observing the culmination of Arbaeen to mark the end of 40 days of mourning after the day of Ashura. The devotees mourn for one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures, Imam Hussein, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, who died in a battle in Karbala in 680 AD.
About five million Shia Muslims from across Iraq and neighbouring Iran are pouring into Karbala to pay homage at Hussein’s shrine, considered one of the holiest places of Shias.
Iraq has deployed about 30,000 security personnel to protect the ceremonies in Karbala.
Some analysts say the attacks were aimed to create a sectarian atmosphere before the parliamentary elections March 7.
