A string of bombings targeting Shiites killed 10 people today around Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.
Police officials said the first attack took place today morning when a bomb exploded near a market in the Shiite section of the town of Mahmoudiya, killing five people and wounding 12. Mahmoudiya is 30 kilometers south of the capital.
Later today, police said a bomb attached to a mini-bus exploded in the capital's northeastern suburb of Husseiniyah, killing two passengers and wounding nine.
In eastern Baghdad, police said a bomb blast near food stalls serving Shiite pilgrims killed three people and wounded eight. The pilgrims were heading to the Shiite holy city of Karbala to attend the religious commemoration known as Arbaeen.
Thousands of Shiite pilgrims are converging on Karbala to mark Arbaeen, the passing of 40 days after the anniversary of the seventh century martyrdom of the revered Shiite saint Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures for the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorised to talk to journalists.
Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Islamic militants frequently attacks Shiites, whom they consider as heretics.
