Da’ish claims responsibility for deadly bus bombing near Karbala

Twelve people were killed and several others wounded in the deadly attack

CAIRO: Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for a bus bombing that killed 12 people near the Iraqi city of Karbala, the Amaq news agency reported on Saturday.

Iraqi security services said on Friday that 12 people were killed and several others wounded when a bus bombing occurred near the holy city south of Baghdad.

Two police spokesmen in the area said an explosive device planted on the bus detonated at a northern entrance to the city, setting fire to the vehicle.

Bus bombing kills 12 people near Iraqi city of Karbala

Attacks have been rare in Karbala in recent years, but sleeper cells of the Islamic State group, also known by its Arabic acronym Da’ish which Iraq declared victory against in late 2017, continue to carry out attacks across the country.

On September 10, more than 30 pilgrims were killed and dozens injured in a stampede at a major shrine in Karbala as hundreds of thousands flocked to the city to mark Ashura.

Iraq is expecting millions more pilgrims to arrive at the end of October for the annual Arbaeen commemoration, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the seventh-century martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

(With additional input from AFP)