Baghdad: At least 18 persons were killed and 53 injured on Saturday in a suicide bomb attack targeting a Shia congregation in Iraq's capital Baghdad, a police official said.
Iraqi security officials said the bomber detonated a belt laden with explosives in a marquee set up in the market for people to take part in Ashura in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of al-Shaab, Efe news reported.
The police official said that the death toll could rise due to the number of people seriously injured in the attack.
The Shia Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the 7th century during the battle of Karbala in Iraq.