Iraq violence: 80 dead from latest suicide bombings targeting Shiite pilgrims and schools
A suicide bomber killed at least 51 Shiite pilgrims who were crossing a bridge in Baghdad in the deadliest of several attacks in Iraq on Saturday, the police said. A school and cafe were also targeted in increasing violence throughout the country.
Official state that the death toll from the attacks claimed at least 80 lives, officials said.
“This has been happening with us for the last 10 years, and they don’t learn that we have faith in our imams and we will never stop,” said one of the wounded pilgrims, Hassan al-Zargani. “We will be happy to die for our imams.”
No group immediately claimed responsibility for either bombing, but the tactics used point to the Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, which views Shi’ites as non-believers and has been regaining momentum this year.
“Pools of blood, shoes and flesh are covering the ground,” said a policeman at the scene of the blast in Baghdad, which came on the anniversary of the death of a Shi’ite imam. Women and children were among the victims, the policeman said.
More than 6,000 people have been killed across the country this year, according to monitoring group Iraq Body Count