48 Dead in Iraq Suicide Attack

Posted on Feb 13, 2011

AP / Hameed Rasheed

Not the first time: Iraqis walk past the al-Askari mosque, target of suicide bombers, in Samarra in February 2006.

While Egypt may be basking in the glow of what it hopes is the dawn of a new democracy, the U.S.-led attempt in Iraq is still in its terrible twos. One of the worst suicide bombings in recent weeks has devastated the city of Samarra, killing 48 people and wounding 80. —JCL

Reuters:

The toll from a suicide bombing that targeted Shi’ite pilgrims near the city of Samarra, one of Iraq’s worst in recent weeks, rose to 48 dead and 80 wounded, police and officials said on Sunday.

The bomber detonated an explosives vest on Saturday at a bus depot at the entry to Samarra, where Shi’ites gathered last week to commemorate the death of one of their 12 revered imams.

The attacker managed to infiltrate a crowd of pilgrims at a security checkpoint where authorities used explosives-sniffing dogs to search vehicles before they entered the city.

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