Officials estimate that six to eight million pilgrims were in Karbala for the climax of Ashura observances and rituals. Over 100,000 of them were foreigners. Although no incidents were reported there, attacks against pilgrims returning to their homes continued. At least seven Iraqis were killed and 42 more were wounded across the country.

A roadside bomb in Touz Khormato killed five pilgrims and wounded 28 others. The Minister for Youth and Sports was the apparent target, but he was unharmed. He later denied it was an assassination attempt against him.

In Baghdad, a bomb targeting pilgrims riding a minibus through Mansour killed one and wounded six more.

In Kirkuk, six policemen were wounded during a blast in the Wassiti neighborhood. A sticky bomb attached to a car in al-Ihtifalat exploded, injuring one civilian. Gunmen killed a member of the local Awakening Council and injured a policeman, possibly in separate events. Kurdish intelligence agents from Asayesh captured an "armed groups supervisor."

A weapons and explosives cache was found in Raas al-Jada.

Ten suspects were captured in Fallujah.

Several bombs were defused around Karbala.

A suicide bomber was captured in Hilla.

In Amara, an Iranian man was arrested on suspicion of planning attacks.

Read more by Margaret Griffis

• HRW Urges Iraq To Stop Executions, Two Men Later Hanged – February 9th, 2012
• Iraq To Limit Foreign Contractors, As Violence Continues – February 8th, 2012
• Iraq: Autonomy-Bid Governor Quits Over Tensions and Violence – February 7th, 2012
• Shi’ite-Led Govt. Still Targeting Rivals, Even As Cabinet Drops Boycott – February 6th, 2012
• Iraqi Town Asks For Help in Removing Landmines – February 4th, 2012