Staggered blasts believed to target Shiite pilgrims in Iraq; councilman among the dead

Bombings in Iraq kill 13 ahead of Shiite rite

BAGHDAD — Staggered explosions apparently targeting Shiite Muslim pilgrims killed at least 13 people and injured 74 on Thursday, authorities said, raising fears of further sectarian attacks at the approach of Shiite Islam’s most solemn holiday.

The deaths come three days before the climax of Ashoura. The holiday’s observers have frequently been attacked in the past.

Police Maj. Muthana Khalid said a first bomb exploded around 2 p.m. Thursday in Hillah, the capital of Babil province, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Baghdad. He said the second explosion came as police rushed to the scene 15 minutes later.

The bombs apparently targeted Shiite pilgrims observing Ashoura who had gathered near a bus station in downtown Hillah.

A wrecked car lay at the attack site, and a pair of blood-covered slippers could be seen near damaged storefronts.

A provincial councilman was among those killed, Khalid said. Hospital physician Dr. Mohammed al-Zurfi also confirmed the casualties.

Thousands of Shiites are expected to converge on the central city of Karbala for the Dec. 27 holiday to mourn the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, killed in 680 A.D. during a battle that sealed the split between Shiites and Sunnis.

On Wednesday, three separate blasts targeting Shiite pilgrims in the Iraqi capital killed six people and wounded 43 others.

The Iraqi government has assigned more than 25,000 police and soldiers to protect pilgrims during the celebrations but has been unable to stop all the attacks.

The Shiite holiday was banned under former dictator Saddam Hussein. The majority of Iraqis are Shiites but Saddam’s administration was primarily Sunni.