Massive bomb explosion hits Karbala

A huge bomb explosion has rocked the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, killing at least 12 people and leaving 40 others wounded.

The incident occurred on Monday morning when a car bomb detonated near a mosque in Karbala, which hosts the shrine of the third imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH).

There were Iranian pilgrims among the casualties from the massive blast.

No person or group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing which took place despite tight security measures in the city, visited by thousands of pilgrims from across Iraq and neighboring countries.

Iraq has witnessed a notable hike in violence over the past few days, following months of relative calm amid continuous yet less fatal, terrorist attacks across the country.

At least 120 people lost their lives in over a dozen coordinated bomb attacks on Tuesday in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Earlier on Sunday, more than 50 Iraqis were killed and at least 60 others injured in a hostage crisis in Baghdad’s Sayidat al-Nejat Catholic Church.

Iraqi authorities blame the al-Qaeda for the attacks, saying the militants are seeking to destabilize the country. Last month, a total of 194 people lost their lives in violence across the war-weary country.