First Published: 2015-03-31
Suicide blast in Iraq on bus carrying Iranian pilgrims
Latest instance of sectarian violence claims the lives of Iranian pilgrims to Samarra
Middle East Online
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims north of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 10 people including seven Iranians, according to Iraqi officials.
Police officials said the attack happened in the town of Taji, 20 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital where the bomber detonated his explosives as the pilgrims were getting off the bus at a gas station.
Hospital officials said two Iranian women and the Iraqi bus driver were among the dead. At least 14 Iranian pilgrims were wounded in the attack. The pilgrims were returning from a trip to the holy Shi'ite city of Samarra.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.
Nobody immediately claimed responsibly for the attack, but the Islamic State extremist group and other Sunni radicals consider the Shi'ite to be apostates deserving of death.
Iraq sees near-daily bombings and other attacks mainly targeting the Shiite majority and security forces. The attacks are often claimed by ISIS, which seized much of northern and western Iraq last year.
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