At least 40 killed in Damascus bombing targeting Shi'ites

The Iraqi foreign ministry confirms that a double bomb attack targeting Shi'ite pilgrims in Damascus killed at least 40 Iraqis and wounded 120 more who were going to pray at a nearby shrine. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack today which the Hezbollah-run al-Manar TV station said had been carried out by two suicide bombers.

Footage broadcast by Syrian state TV showed two badly damaged buses with their windows blown out. The area was splattered with blood and shoes were scattered on the ground.

The attack took place at a bus station where the pilgrims had been brought to visit the nearby Bab al-Saghir cemetery, while the second blast went off 10 minutes after the first, inflicting casualties on civil defence workers who had gathered to tend to the casualties.