12 killed, dozens hurt in Karbala blasts

At least 12 people have been killed and more than 30 others injured in two bomb explosions that ripped through a neighborhood in Iraq’s holy city of Karbala.

Police say the car bombs went off at a parking lot, destroying several nearby vehicles and buildings in the al-Ibrahimiyah area in eastern Karbala, some 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police sources said on Monday.

The latest attack came as part of a series of bomb attacks as tens of thousands of pilgrims are converging from outside Iraq and from different Iraqi provinces to the holy shrine of the third Shia, Imam Hussein (PBUH), in Karbala.

Violence and sporadic high-profile bomb attacks continue in Iraqi cities.

Shia pilgrims have flocked by the thousand to Iraq’s cities of Karbala, Najaf and Baghdad to commemorate the Arba’een mourning ceremonies.

Arba’een marks 40th day to pass following the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH).

A number of people have recently been killed or wounded ahead of the major Shia event.

Monday’s bomb explosions follow a wave of violence across war-wrecked Iraq in recent days.

More than 100 people lost their lives and scores more were wounded last week in a spate of attacks targeting Iraqi security forces and pilgrims.

The recent spike in violence comes just weeks after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki formed a new government, ending a political stalemate since the March parliamentary elections.