Iraq Attacks Kill 23

Numerous attacks across Iraq resulted in at least 23 deaths Thursday, including a local political figure and those preparing for a Shi’ite ritual, according to police and officials. Twin bomb attacks at a bus and taxi terminal in the southern Babel province’s capital of Hilla left 12 people dead and 91 wounded. North of those explosions, in a poor Shi’ite area of Baghdad, another bombing at an outdoor funeral killed five people and injured 22 others, according to police. Also in Baghdad in southeastern Zaafaraniya, a roadside bomb killed three Shi’ite pilgrims while 22 others were wounded. As those observing Ashura, marking the death of Hussein, Mohammad’s grandson, make their way to Kerbala by Sunday, Iraqi security forces are taking extra precautions. But on Thursday, another roadside bomb went off near a restaurant outside of Kerbala, killing one and wounding five others, including two Shi’ite travelers. Separately, a shooting also killed two men in the northern city of Mosul, one of whom was a Christian who is speculated to have been the target of religious hostility before Christmas.