27 killed, 56 wounded in eastern Karbala blast

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: At least 27 persons were killed and 56 others were wounded in the explosion that took place in eastern Karbala on Friday, Karbala governor said. “The explosion, which occurred in Qantarat al-Salam region in eastern Karbala, targeted Shiite pilgrims returning to their provinces after performing the Arbaeen visit,” Amal al-Din al-Herr told IraqiNews.com news agency. A security source had said earlier that a mortar shell landed near Qantarat al-Salam region in eastern Karbala. This the second attack of its kind in the region in two days, as an explosive charge went off at 1:00am on Wednesday (Feb. 3) in the same region, killing six and injuring 19. The holy Shiite city of Karbala lies 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. SH (P) 2