72 people killed in coordinated attacks in Iraq
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  • According to reports, a wave of bombings, targeting Shias in Iraq killed seventy two people on January 5 thus deepening sectarian tensions that exploded just after the last American troops left the country in mid-December, 2011. The coordinated attacks targeting Shias bore the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents linked to Al Qaeda, however, there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The bombings began early in the morning when explosions struck two Shia neighborhoods in Baghdad, killing at least 27 people. A few hours later, a suicide attack hit Shia pilgrims heading to the holy Shia city of Karbala, killing 45, said provincial official Quosay Al Abadi. The blasts occurred in the run-up to Arbaeen, a Shia holy day which marks the end of 40 days of mourning that follow the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, a revered Shia figure. Fears have already been running high that the sectarian tensions could re-ignite Shia-Sunni warfare that just a few years ago pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war. 1

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