At least 49 killed in attacks on Shiite pilgrims in Iraq

At least 49 people were killed and 213 injured in attacks on Shiite pilgrims attending a religious occasion in Baghdad in the past two days, Iraqi media reported on Thursday.

Five pilgrims were killed and 13 others injured by a bomb targeting a convoy of pilgrims in southeeastern Baghdad on Thursday morning, Iraqi news agency Aswat al-Iraq reported.

The attack raises the death toll from a series of suicide bombings and roadside explosions targeting Shiite pilgrims to at least 49 killed and 213 injured since Wednesday, the agency reported.

Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims have been making their way on foot to the Baghdad suburb of al-Kadhimiya in recent days in order to commemorate the death of Imam Moussa Ibn Abi Jaafar, also known as al-Kadhem, DPA reported.

Separately, four civilians were killed and two others injured by bombs targeting the homes of three police officers in the city of Fallujah, around 60 kilometres west of Baghdad, police sources said.

Another bomb targeting a police convoy as it arrived at one of the attacked homes left two policemen injured.