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Iraq bombing kills at least 48
Source: Agencies |
February 14, 2011, Monday
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THE toll from a suicide bombing that targeted Shiite pilgrims near the city of Samarra, one of Iraq's worst in recent weeks, rose to 48 dead and 80 wounded, police and officials said yesterday.
The bomber detonated an explosives vest on Saturday at a bus depot at the entry to Samarra, where Shiites gathered last week to commemorate the death of one of their 12 revered imams.
The attacker managed to infiltrate a crowd of pilgrims at a security checkpoint where authorities used explosives--sniffing dogs to search vehicles.
"From the cruelty I've seen, it's al-Qaida who carried out this terrorist attack. Al-Qaida insists on undermining stability and peace in Samarra," said Majeed Abbas, a local leader of the government-backed Sunni Sahwa militia.
Samarra is the home of the al-Askari mosque and shrine. Shiites gathered to mark the death of Hasan al-Askari, the 11th of the 12 imams.
Shiite religious events were banned under Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, who was ousted in a United States-led invasion in 2003. Shiite pilgrims have been frequent targets of insurgents since.
The bomber detonated an explosives vest on Saturday at a bus depot at the entry to Samarra, where Shiites gathered last week to commemorate the death of one of their 12 revered imams.
The attacker managed to infiltrate a crowd of pilgrims at a security checkpoint where authorities used explosives--sniffing dogs to search vehicles.
"From the cruelty I've seen, it's al-Qaida who carried out this terrorist attack. Al-Qaida insists on undermining stability and peace in Samarra," said Majeed Abbas, a local leader of the government-backed Sunni Sahwa militia.
Samarra is the home of the al-Askari mosque and shrine. Shiites gathered to mark the death of Hasan al-Askari, the 11th of the 12 imams.
Shiite religious events were banned under Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, who was ousted in a United States-led invasion in 2003. Shiite pilgrims have been frequent targets of insurgents since.
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