2008 Karbala bombing

The 2008 Karbala bombing occurred on March 17, 2008 in Karbala, Iraq.

Background
Karbala is a city in central Iraq, 80 km south of Baghdad. It is home to the Imam Husayn Shrine, one of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam. The city had seen several other suicide bombs in the past, including one in April 2007 that killed roughly 100 people.

There were two other insurgent attacks the day of the bombing, including a mortar attack and several suicide bombs, both in Baghdad. The attacks came during a visit by US Vice President Dick Cheney.

Details
The suicide bomb detonated outside a cafe near the shrine. Al-Qaeda is suspected to be behind the bombings, though this is not proven. Mohammed Kadhem, 39, a witness to the bombings claimed that he "saw smoke and bodies." The bomber was confirmed to be female though few other details were given.

Victims
The bombings killed at least 42 people and injured 58. The dead include seven Iranians.