Iraq Terrorist Attack Wounds 9 Iranian Pilgrims, 3 in Critical Condition

By Staff, News Agencies

Iraqi sources reported that nine Iranian nationals had been injured as a terrorist attack targeted a bus carrying pilgrims south of the Iraqi city of Balad.

According to Al Forat News, the terrorist attack near Balad in the Saladin Governorate has injured several pilgrims, including 9 Iranians, three of whom are in critical conditions.

Alsumaria News quoted an Iraqi source as saying that the passengers in the bus were wounded when a roadside bomb went off.

The source said they have been taken to the hospital.

In another report, the Associated Press said the pilgrims were wounded in a shooting attack on their bus.

AP quoted police and medical officials as saying that Iranian Shiite pilgrims traveling in central Iraq were wounded when their bus came under attack by unidentified gunmen.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, Sputnik quoted a source in Iraq’s Security Service as saying, “An explosive device placed close to the roadside south of the city of Balad blasted as a bus with pilgrims passed by. This led to the deaths of several passengers, and some were injured.”

The pilgrims were reportedly en route towards the shrine of a revered Shiite figure.

In November 2017, at least 30 Iranian pilgrims were injured in a bus attack in eastern Iraq as they were on their way to attend a religious gathering.