Major blast in Karbala kills 20 pilgrims, injures 120

A bomb blast has left at least 20 people killed and about 120 others wounded in Karbala as violence builds against Muslim pilgrims en route to the holy city for a major religious rite.

The deadly attack took place on Wednesday when an explosive-laden cart pulled by a motorcycle went off, Reuters reported quoting Iraqi police officials, who noted that the death toll could rise.

The blast in Karbala came despite tightened security and large deployments of troops and security forces in and around the holy city, Press TV corresponded in Iraq Wisam al-Bayati said.

Strong security measures have also been introduced on the routes leading to Karbala, banning the movement of vehicles on the roads and allowing pilgrims to travel only on foot, he added.

The blast hit Muslim pilgrims, including women and children, as they were traveling on foot from Hillah in Babil province to Karbala to take part in mourning ceremonies marking the 40th day after the Ashura anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH).

The Iraqi government has strongly condemned the Wednesday bombing and promised to track down those behind the grizzly attack and bring them to justice.

Elsewhere, two separate roadside bombs targeted Muslim pilgrims in the south and southwest of Baghdad, killing at least one person and wounding some four pilgrims.

The bombings are the latest in a string of attacks this week against the Muslim pilgrims who are walking to Karbala, which hosts Imam Hussein’s holy shrine.

On Monday, a female bomber blew up herself near a convoy of pilgrims in Baghdad, killing at least 54 people.