Baghdad_(dpa) _ In the third attack in as many days on Shiite pilgrims, a car bomb killed six civilians and wounded 11 others in Baghdad's north-eastern neighbourhood of Ur on Saturday, Iraqi authorities said. The attack, which targeted Shiite pilgrims boarding minibuses in Baghdad, is the third in a series of attacks targeting visitors heading to the holy city of Karbala to mark the al-Ziyara al-Shaabaniya or the mid of Shaaban visit pilgrimage on Sunday.
The bombing followed Friday night's attack when at least 9 pilgrims were killed and 40 others wounded when a car bomb ripped through a bus station in the district of Balad in Saladdin province, 90 Kilometres north of Baghdad.
The deadliest attack came on Thursday, when at least 20 people were killed and around 100 injured in the Iskandariyah district 40 kilometres south of Baghdad as two women suicide bombers wearing explosive belts blew themselves up amid pilgrims.
Shiite pilgrims have been a constant target of extremist Sunni Muslim groups operating in Iraq, mainly al-Qaeda, during their annual religious celebrations.
US and Iraqi authorities say al-Qaeda militants have increasingly been relying on women to conduct suicide bomb attacks, as their clothing makes it easier for them to evade security searches.
In Karbala, security measures were tightened in preparation for the occasion in which millions of pilgrims from Iraq and neighbouring countries are expected to pour into the city 110 kilometres south-west of Baghdad to commemorate the birth of the 12th Imam revered by Shiites.
A total ban on the movement of cars has been in effect since Friday, security officials said. A total of 40,000 security personnel will be deployed.
The Iraqi Air Force will carry out reconnaissance flights over all areas before and during the pilgrimage, while the US Air force will secure the area around the city. Hundreds of policewomen to search and deal with female pilgrims have been deployed to all checkpoints inside and outside of the city.