Twin bombings at Damascus cemetery leave at least 40 dead

Published March 11th, 2017 - 05:43 GMT
Syrian forensics examine a damaged bus at the scene of a bombing following twin attacks targeting Shiite pilgrims in Damascus' Old City on March 11, 2017. (AFP/Louai Beshara)
Syrian forensics examine a damaged bus at the scene of a bombing following twin attacks targeting Shiite pilgrims in Damascus' Old City on March 11, 2017. (AFP/Louai Beshara)

Dozens of Iraqis were killed and more than 100 others were injured during a pilgrimage when twin blasts struck a cemetery in Syria.

At least 40 Iraqis were killed and 120 were injured in the attack on the Bab al-Saghir cemetery in the capital city of Damascus, where Shia Muslim mausoleums are housed, Iraq's foreign ministry said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal said the attackers used improvised explosive devices in the attack on the pilgrims who were traveling to the "holy shrines" by bus.

Bab al-Saghir is one of Syria's largest and oldest cemeteries and houses the remains of the descendants and companions of the Prophet Mohammed.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but extremist groups such as Daesh have attacked Shia shrines in the past.

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