Iranian Pilgrims among Scores of People Killed in Suicide Blast in Iraq
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A suicide bombing south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Thursday reportedly killed more than 80 people, including a number of Iranian pilgrims.
According to security sources, a truck loaded with explosives went off at a gas station in the Shomali village in the suburbs of the city of al-Hilla, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of the capital Baghdad and around 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the holy city of Karbala
According to some reports, 12 Iranian nationals were among the victims.
The incident occurred at a time when buses packed with Shiite pilgrims were parked at the gas station, according to Press TV. The people were returning from Arbaeen mourning rituals in Karbala.
“At least seven buses with pilgrims were inside the petrol station at the time,” an unnamed police lieutenant colonel told AFP.
AFP also quoted an unnamed police intelligence source as saying that “those buses were loaded with Iranians, Bahrainis and Iraqis. Ambulances and civil defense are on their way to the site.”
The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.
In recent weeks, Daesh has resorted to similar acts of violence in areas outside its control in a desperate attempt to undermine a large Iraqi battle aimed at liberating the northern city of Mosul, the terror group’s last remaining foothold in the country.