As the Arbaeen observance draws nearer, Shi’ite pilgrims remain easy targets for insurgents. The pilgrims often travel to Karbala on foot, making them exceptionally vulnerable. In addition, Iraqis will often provide refreshments to traveling pilgrims, giving insurgents effortless access to large groups of people. At least 73 people were killed today, and another 121 were wounded. Most of the casualties occurred between Baghdad and Karbala.
In Baghdad, 20 people were killed and 40 more were wounded in a suicide attack at refreshment stand set-up for pilgrims traveling through the Doura district; one victim was a former Reuters reporter. Gunmen killed a civilian. A bomb in Radwaniya killed two people and wounded seven more. Security forces killed four gunmen and then two more in separate operations.
A suicide bomber attacked pilgrims in Yusufiya where he killed eight people and wounded 32 more.
Nine people were killed in a suicide attack targeting ethnic Turkmen from Kirkuk who were traveling through Latifiya, and at least 23 more of them were wounded by the bomber.
Gunmen in Abu Ghraib attacked a Sahwa leader’s home where they killed him and five other people, including at least two children.
Two soldiers were killed and four more were wounded in a roadside blast in Mushahda.
Three policemen were killed and another one was wounded in a bombing in Dour.
Gunmen killed a Sahwa member and wounded two policemen on a highway near Qayara.
One person was killed and two more were wounded in a small arms attack in Zaidan.
In Mosul, gunmen killed an engineer. A taxi driver was gunned down as he washed his car. A policeman was killed and three others were wounded in shooting.
A roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded three others in Baaj.
Gunmen killed two policemen in Tikrit.
In Yathrib, a roadside bomb killed a civilian and wounded another.
Gunmen in Shura killed a policeman.
A policeman was shot dead in Shirqat.
A bomb injured three policemen in Samarra.
In Ramadi, two gunmen were killed when security forces tried to arrest them.
An unreported number of insurgents were killed in a security operation on the Euphrates River near Amiriyat al-Falluja.
