Blast martyrs 20 Shia pilgrims in Iraq

At least 20 Shia pilgrims (Zaireen) have lost their lives in a bombing explosion that targeted Shia pilgrims in Iraq’s southern city of Basra, Iraqi police say.

The bomb exploded on Saturday when a crowd of Shia pilgrims gathered on the outskirts of the city to commemorate Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (as).

Arbaeen marks the culmination of a 40-day mourning period after the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as), Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) grandson. 
Iraqi security forces sealed off the scene as rescue workers and medics were trying to evacuate the victims to nearby medical centers. Over the past days, large crowds of Shia mourners from various countries have arrived in Karbala to mark the Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (as).
Despite the recent spate of terrorist attacks which targeted pilgrims in different parts of Baghdad, many people kept walking from their hometowns to Karbala.
In recent weeks, scores of people have been killed in bomb attacks targeting Shia Muslims.
The deadliest attack took place on January 5, in which 70 people lost their lives in blasts in Baghdad and southern Iraq.