Two people were killed and 13 wounded on Sunday when two bombs went off north of the city of Karbala in southern Iraq, according to security sources, dpa reported.
The bombings targeted Shiite pilgrims who were en route to attend an annual religious event, added the sources.
Thousands of Shiites are flocking to the holy city to attend the event commemorating al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
Iraqi authorities have tightened security in Karbala, located 108 kilometres south of Baghdad, for fear of an increase in attacks on the pilgrims.