Islamic State terrorists killed at least 35 people and wounded scores of others late Thursday in an attack on a Shi'ite shrine north of Baghdad, Iraqi security officials said Friday.
The attack on the Sayyid Mohammed shrine included several suicide bombers, guns and mortar fire, and came just days after hundreds of people were killed and wounded in an attack on a crowded Baghdad shopping center; the deadliest bombing in Iraq’s history.
The attack on the shrine in Balad, 75 kilometers north of Baghdad, started with mortar fire before three IS militants arrived and began shooting people inside.
Two of the bombers later blew themselves up in a market near the shrine. Another would-be bomber attempted to blow himself up, but was killed before he had the opportunity, according to police officials.
In another development, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has fired the head of security in Baghdad and other security officials following last Sunday's massive bombing in the capital.
