Iraq, December 27: Millions of Shiites across Iraq on Sunday joined ceremonies marking the climax of solemn Ashura rituals.
Around three million people thronged the streets of the shrine city of Karbala in central Iraq for the main rituals, according to provincial deputy governor Nasaeef Jassim.
“Pilgrims have gathered in the streets of the Old City of Karbala to prepare for the final part of the ceremonies,” said Jassim, adding that among the three million pilgrims were some 105,000 worshippers from foreign countries, mostly from the Gulf but also including Pakistan, Canada and Tanzania.
He added that a total of six million people had passed through Karbala city during the 10-day Ashura rituals, the holiest days of the Islamic year for Shiites.
Karbala police chief General Ali Jassim Mohammed had earlier in the week announced the deployment of around 25,000 policemen and soldiers to secure the commemoration ceremonies.
But police said that early on Sunday a bomb ripped through a procession marking Ashura in the northern town of Taza Kharmatu, near oil-rich Kirkuk, killing four people and wounding 19.
The Taza Kharmatu attack came a day after three Shiites were killed when bombs struck separate Ashura processions in Baghdad.
Karbala, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Baghdad, was peaceful on Sunday.
“Despite a serious threat from armed groups to target visitors, the security plan has worked,” said National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waili, who was visiting Karbala along with Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani.
—Agencies