BAGHDAD, Feb 4 (NNN-KUNA) — A suicide bomber has detonated a minibus among Shia pilgrims at the eastern entrance of Karbala, 100 km southwest Baghdad, killing at least 24 people and wounding 117 others, a local security source said.

The explosion took place Wednesday near the Towairij district, the hometown of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki some 10 km to the east of Karbala, the source said.

It coincided with the climax of Shiite Arba’inia ceremonies marking the 40 mourning days of Imam Al-Hussein, the source said under condition of anonymity.

The victims have been rushed to nearby hospitals such as the Al-Hussein Hospital, the source said, noting that the death toll is likely to increase due to the life-threatening condition of several injured people.

Meanwhile, a medical source in the Al-Hussein Hospital told KUNA that the hospital received 15 bodies and 50 injured people after Wednesday’s attack, noting that the victims include women and children.

Karbala has seen Tuesday night a bomb attack which killed three and wounded 30 others.

Shia pilgrims make their annual journey to the Imam Hussein shrine in the holy city to observe the 40-day mourning of Imam Al-Hussein. They are traditionally easy target for terrorist attacks.

– NNN-KUNA

• SATELLITE IMAGES TO BE USED IN MAPPING FORESTS IN FIJI
• THAI ARMY CHIEF ORDERS HIGH ALERT AGAINST ILLEGAL ACTS ALONG BORDER
• MALAYSIA RECORDS HIGHEST TOTAL TRADE OF RM1.3 TRILLION LAST YEAR
• PARAGUAY'S VICE PRESIDENT & WIFE DOWN WITH DENGUE
• HANTAVIRUS ALERT IN CHILE AFTER THREE DEATHS & TEN INFECTED