Female Suicide Bomber Targets Pilgrims in North-east Baghdad

A female suicide bomber detonated a set of explosives hidden under her garments killing at least 40 and injuring more than 100 civilians. The bomber targeted a group of Shia pilgrims who were making the journey to Karbala from Baghdad to celebrate the annual festival of Arbaeen which culminates the end of a 40-day morning of the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. The pilgrimage has been the target of attacks staged by Sunni extremists – less than a year ago another group of Shia pilgrims on the same journey were killed by a female suicide bomber. This most recent attack highlights the elevated tension between Shia and Sunni groups in anticipation of parliamentary elections coming this March. Read more at BBC.

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