Iraq: Suicide blast hits bus with Iranian pilgrims, kills 10

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BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying Iranian Shiite pilgrims north of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 10 people, including seven Iranians, according to Iraqi officials.

Police officials said the attack happened in the town of Taji, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Iraqi capital where the bomber detonated his explosives as the pilgrims were getting off the bus at a gas station.

Hospital officials said two Iranian women and the Iraqi bus driver were among the dead. At least 14 Iranian pilgrims were wounded in the attack. The pilgrims were returning from a trip to the holy Shiite city of Samarra.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibly for the attack, but the Islamic State extremist group and other Sunni radicals consider Shiites to be apostates deserving of death.

Iraq sees near-daily bombings and other attacks mainly targeting the Shiite majority and security forces. The attacks are often claimed by the Islamic State group, which seized much of northern and western Iraq last year.