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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city | Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city |
| (3 days later) | |
| At least 36 people have been killed and more than 160 hurt in a suicide car bomb attack in the Iraqi city of Karbala, officials 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 10 people died in a truck bomb attack on a key bridge in the south of the city. | Meanwhile in Baghdad at least 10 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. | 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. |
| Karbala's director of health told the BBC that 36 people were known to have been killed in the attack. | Karbala's director of health told the BBC that 36 people were known to have been killed in the attack. |
| Another 168 people had been hurt, of whom around 15 were very seriously injured, he said. Earlier reports from the Iraqi military and hospital officials had suggested the number of deaths was higher. | Another 168 people had been hurt, of whom around 15 were very seriously injured, he said. Earlier reports from the Iraqi military and hospital officials had suggested the number of deaths was higher. |
| 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. |
| "What did they do to deserve this," a woman searching a hospital for her daughter and grandson told the Associated Press news agency. | "What did they do to deserve this," a woman searching a hospital for her daughter and grandson told the Associated Press news agency. |
| "To whom should I complain? There is no government to protect us," she said. | "To whom should I complain? There is no government to protect us," she said. |
| Curfew | Curfew |
| Demonstrations followed outside the Karbala governor's offices. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | |
| More than 100 people were killed during last month's pilgrimage. | More than 100 people were killed during last month's pilgrimage. |