A female suicide bomber detonated an explosives vest among Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad killing at least 54 people. The Shia pilgrims were marking the end of 40 days of mourning commemorating the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson. 32 pilgrims were killed by a female suicide bomber in 2009 as well. The attack came amidst heightened tensions between Sunni and Shia groups ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March.1

• 1. ‘Iraqi female bomber kills dozens’, BBC News, February 1, 2010 at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8490819.stm