17 Dead in Iraq Bombings: Reports
At least 17 people were killed and dozens others wounded, as a spate of bombings targeted Shiite pilgrims and worshippers rocked Iraq Friday, say reports citing police and medical officials.
The attacks, in continuum of a series of similar bombings targeting Shiites, have raised hackles over a possible insurgent ploy to re-ignite sectarian violence that nearly ripped the country apart in 2006-07.
The most severe bombing on Friday was venued in the vicinity of a Shiite mosque in Rasheediyah, a village north of Mosul, where a car bomb killed at least 10 people as they came out of the mosque after Friday prayers, say media reports citing police officials in Ninevah operations command.
The sources confirmed that dozens more were injured in the bombing.
In Baghdad, three roadside bombs targeted Shiite pilgrims returning from the southern holy city of Karbala.
Medical officials confirmed four casualties in the first bombing that targeting a minibus with pilgrims as it entered the Shiite slum of Sadr City at about 0910 hours. At least eight others were wounded.
The Sadr bombing was followed by two near simultaneous explosions near a football stadium in eastern Baghdad.
Three pilgrims were killed as they were walking home to Sadr City. Thirteen pilgrims were wounded in the two blasts, which were separated by less than half a mile, the official said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks that came a day after a roadside bomb killed at least four pilgrims on their way to Karbala.
On Friday last, 29 people were killed in a series of explosions targeting Shiite worshippers in the Baghdad area.
(With Internet Inputs)
