Second bomb blast in Baghdad after 30 killed outside mosque

Witnesses say a second bomb has exploded at a mosque in western Baghdad.

In the first blast this morning, a suicide bomber killed about 30 people when he blew himself up outside one of Baghdad’s main Shiite mosques during Friday prayers, a National Guard officer said.

The attack took place near the al-Khadimain mosque in the capital’s Dora district, Lieutenant Ahmad Ali said.

Shiites are celebrating the Islamic holy month of Muharram and tomorrow is Ashoura - the holiest day of the year for them.

During Ashoura last year, twin blasts ripped through crowds of worshippers at Shiite Muslim shrines in Baghdad and Karbala, killing at least 181 people.