Heavy security as Shi’ites celebrate Ashoura in ritual bloodletting

TENS of thousands of Iraqis marched and beat themselves yesterday in blood-soaked processions through this holy city and other Shi’ite centres around the country to mourn the seventh century death of their revered martyr, Imam Hussein.

Amid tight security and in a fierce sand storm, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Karbala, where Hussein is believed buried, for ceremonies marking Ashoura, the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar.

More than 8,000 security officers and extra Shi’ite militiamen frisked pilgrims and blocked vehicles from the city in the hope of preventing Sunni Arab suicide bombers from striking the event, as they have done during the previous two years, killing more than 230 people.