News   /   Iraq

Blast kills 8, wounds 16 pilgrims in Iraq

The file photo shows people gathering at the site of a car bomb blast in central Arbil, the Iraqi Kurdistan capital, on April 17, 2015. © AFP

A car bomb goes off near the Iraqi city of Balad, killing at least eight people and injuring 16 others, authorities say.

Police and a local official in Balad in northern Salahuddin Province said on Thursday that the assault occurred overnight next to a crowd of pilgrims commemorating the death of Imam Ali al-Hadi (PBUH).

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deadly incident took place while the pilgrims were returning from the holy shrine of Imam Ali al-Hadi (PBUH) in Samarra, which lies 110 kilometers north of Baghdad.

Iraqis are seen in this file photo standing at the site of an explosion at the car park across the street from the al-Yarmuk hospital in the west of Baghdad on April 14, 2015. © AFP

 

There has been no claim of responsibility for the bombing, but it bears the hallmarks of similar assaults by the ISIL Takfiri terrorists, who currently control parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

The ISIL terrorists have committed heinous crimes and threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and Izadi Kurds, during their advances in Iraq.  

The attacks have intensified over the past months as the Iraqi government continues to purge the terrorists from major towns and cities across the country.

Iraqis are shown in this AFP photo standing at the site of a car bomb explosion in the Shia-majority Sadr City area of north Baghdad on March 23, 2015. 

 

Similarly, late in March, at least 17 people were killed and dozens more injured in other terrorist bomb attacks.

Iraqi forces, backed by volunteers, have made fresh gains in their operation to retake full control of Tikrit, a major stronghold of ISIL militants in north Iraq.

ISIL started its campaign of terror in Iraq in early June 2014. The heavily-armed militants took control of Mosul before sweeping through parts of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

MIS/NN/HMV


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku