A series of bombings in Baghdad left 24 dead and dozens wounded Thursday, intensifying fears of an increase in sectarian violence in the midst of a political crisis.
A triple bombing in Baghdad's Sadr City area Thursday morning killed at least nine people and wounded 35 others, an official with Iraq's Interior Ministry said.
The first bomb -- attached to a motorcycle -- detonated near a group of laborers who were searching for day jobs in the Shiite neighborhood, according to the official. Shortly after that, two other bombs detonated in quick succession nearby.
Iraqis have been concerned about an increase in violence after the U.S. Military withdrawal from the country.
In other violence, car bombs exploded successively in northern Baghdad's predominantly Shiite Kadhimiya district on Thursday morning killing 15 and wounding 31, the Interior Ministry official said.
The bombs exploded in two busy squares that were about 150 meters apart.
Kadhimiya is busy with many Shiite pilgrims who are starting their pilgrimage walking to Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen .
Arbaeen, is a Shiite pilgrimage marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for seventh century Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed who was felled in a 7th century battle in the Iraqi city.
There has been increased security on the roads to Karbala ahead of the pilgrimage that culminates later this month.
cnn.com
