Business as usual, though many will look for a way to blame the enmity of Sunnis and Shi’ites, which spans well over a millennium, on 234-year-old America. “Attacks on Iraqi pilgrims kill at least 33,” by Jomana Karadesh for CNN, July 7:
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) — The relentless violence against Shiite pilgrims intensified Wednesday evening, with at least 33 people killed by bomb attacks, officials said.
The attacks, which occurred despite heightened security, left 110 people injured, an Interior Ministry official told CNN. Two people died in separate incidents earlier in the day.
A suicide bomber struck at pilgrims in northern Baghdad’s predominantly Sunni Adhamiya district as they were walking toward neighboring Kadhimiya, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have gathered to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kadhim. At least 28 were killed and 63 wounded, the official said.
Two roadside bombs left at least five pilgrims dead and 36 wounded in eastern Baghdad’s mostly Shiite districts of New Baghdad and al-Fudhailiya, the official said.
A roadside bomb targeting pilgrims exploded in al-Bayaain, in southeastern Baghdad, wounding at least six. In central Baghdad, another five pilgrims were wounded in a roadside bomb blast.
The attacks came a day after bombings left at least nine dead and 43 wounded. Pilgrims have been targeted since Friday.
The capital is under tight security for the pilgrimage, with many roads blocked and a ban on motorcycles and bicycles in place.
Security measures include: Vehicles to transport pilgrims; thousands of deployed troops; security cameras in and around the shrine; aerial surveillance; and 500 personnel to combat the threat of female suicide bombers.
The Kadhimiya shrine is one of the holiest to Shiite Muslims around the world. The imam died more than 1,200 years ago.