WORLD> Middle East
Car bomb kills three Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-16 15:59

BAGHDAD -- A car bomb went off at a parking- lot in a Baghdad neighborhood targeting Shiite pilgrims on Saturday, killing three people and wounding six others, a well-informed police source said.

A booby-trapped car bomb detonated in the morning at a parking- lot of minibuses that transport Shiite pilgrims from Shaab neighborhood in northeastern Baghdad to the holy city of Karbala, some 110 km south of Baghdad, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

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The blast also damaged several nearby vehicles at the scene, the source said.

The latest wave of bombings targeting Shiite pilgrims since Thursday, killed some 32 people and wounded more than 130, most of them were pilgrims, despite a massive security measures.

Every year, thousands of Shiite pilgrims converge on Karbala to celebrate the birth in the 9th century of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, last of 12 most revered Shiite Imams.

Shiites believe that Imam Mahdi is hidden and never dies, and according to their belief he will return at the end of the time to bring peace and justice to the mankind.

In August 2007, Karbala became the scene of turmoil when clashes broke out between pilgrims and security forces, resulting in the killing of 50 people and the wounding of more than 300 others.