Three people have been killed and 32 others injured in two separate terrorist attacks as millions of mourners are heading to the holy city of Karbala to commemorate the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH), Press TV reported.
One explosion struck a group of mourners west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The other bomb targeted a procession in the town of Khalis, north of the capital.
Attacks on Shia mourners have increased in war-ravaged Iraq in the lead-up to Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH).
Ashura, the tenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar year Muharram, falls on December 16 this year.
Many devout Muslims across the world are also holding ceremonies to mourn the event which is one of the most important occasions on the Shia calendar.
On Ashura day, Imam Hussein (PBUH) and 72 of his companions were martyred while fighting for justice during Karbala battle in Iraq back in the year 680.
On Monday, four people were killed and 17 others wounded in a bomb attack on a group of pilgrims northeast of Baghdad.
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