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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city | Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 47 people have been killed and more than 60 hurt in a suicide car bomb attack in Iraq's holy city of Karbala, police and medical sources say. | |
| The attacker detonated explosives at a crowded bus station in the city close to a shrine holy to Shia Muslims, at around 0915 local time (0515 GMT). | The attacker detonated explosives at a crowded bus station in the city close to a shrine holy to Shia Muslims, at around 0915 local time (0515 GMT). |
| Many of the casualties were said to be women or children. | Many of the casualties were said to be women or children. |
| Meanwhile in Baghdad at least eight people died in a truck bomb attack on a key bridge in the south of the city. | Meanwhile in Baghdad at least eight people died in a truck bomb attack on a key bridge in the south of the city. |
| The driver of the pick-up detonated his bomb near a checkpoint on the Jadariya bridge, across the River Tigris. The bridge appears to have been left intact. | The driver of the pick-up detonated his bomb near a checkpoint on the Jadariya bridge, across the River Tigris. The bridge appears to have been left intact. |
| This follows a truck bomb which partially destroyed the Sarafiya bridge in northern Baghdad on Thursday, killing eight people. | This follows a truck bomb which partially destroyed the Sarafiya bridge in northern Baghdad on Thursday, killing eight people. |
| The attacks come as a US-led security operation enters its third month. | The attacks come as a US-led security operation enters its third month. |
| The surge has brought down the rate of sectarian murders in the capital but has failed to stop bomb attacks. | The surge has brought down the rate of sectarian murders in the capital but has failed to stop bomb attacks. |
| Correspondents say the latest attacks suggest a change in tactics by insurgents, who are targeting infrastructure in an attempt to undermine confidence in the crackdown. | |
| Ambulances | Ambulances |
| In Karbala, witnesses said police fired into the air to disperse crowds and clear the roads near the bus station, which had been particularly busy at the time of the attack. | In Karbala, witnesses said police fired into the air to disperse crowds and clear the roads near the bus station, which had been particularly busy at the time of the attack. |
| Iraqi television aired footage in which rescue workers could be seen evacuating casualties. As many as 15 ambulances were said to be at the scene. | Iraqi television aired footage in which rescue workers could be seen evacuating casualties. As many as 15 ambulances were said to be at the scene. |
| Hundreds of people were seen gathered around the ambulances and pounding their chests in grief. | Hundreds of people were seen gathered around the ambulances and pounding their chests in grief. |
| Demonstrations followed outside the Karbala governor's offices. | |
| Protesters threw stones at the offices, demanding the resignation of the governor and provincial council members and blaming them for security lapses. | |
| Police imposed a curfew and sealed off entrances to the city. | |
| The attack occurred about 200m from the Imam Hussein shrine, where the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad is believed to be buried. | The attack occurred about 200m from the Imam Hussein shrine, where the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad is believed to be buried. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the location of the attack, plus the fact that it was clearly aimed at Shia Muslims, makes it highly provocative. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the location of the attack, plus the fact that it was clearly aimed at Shia Muslims, makes it highly provocative. |
| Karbala, which is 80km south of Baghdad, is the destination of a Shia pilgrimage every March. | Karbala, which is 80km south of Baghdad, is the destination of a Shia pilgrimage every March. |
| More than 100 people were killed during last month's pilgrimage. | More than 100 people were killed during last month's pilgrimage. |