KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) — More than 30 pilgrims were killed and dozens injured Tuesday in a stampede at a major shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala on the Shiite holy Day of Ashura.
It is Iraq’s deadliest mass stampede in recent history during Ashura, whose commemorative marches were previously targeted by Sunni extremist groups.
Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims from around the world swarmed Karbala, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Iraq’s capital Baghdad, to commemorate the death of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Hussein.
The packed processions of black-clad worshippers made their way to his gold-domed shrine, carrying flags and crying out, “We sacrifice ourselves for you, Oh Hussein!”
As the massive crowds pressed forward, a stampede broke out that left at least 31 people dead and more than 100 more wounded, according to Iraq’s health ministry.
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Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr said the death toll could rise as nine of the wounded were in critical condition.
Outside the Al-Hussein Medical City in Karbala, paramedics wheeled wounded people into the emergency room throughout the afternoon.
