SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 12 AT SHIITE FUNERAL IN BAGHDAD A suicide bomber killed at least 12 people at a Shiite funeral in a mosque in the Iraqi capital on Friday, security and medical officials said. The attack in the Al-Ashara al-Mubashareen mosque in the Amil area of south Baghdad also wounded at least 32 people, the officials said. Two officials said the funeral was for a member of the volunteer paramilitary force known as the Popular Mobilisation units. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but suicide bombings are a tactic used exclusively by Sunni extremists in Iraq, including the Islamic State jihadist group, who consider Shiites to be heretics. The Popular Mobilisation units -- which are dominated by Iranian-backed Shiite militias -- are some of the most effective forces in the battle against IS, which overran large parts of the country last year. sf/wd/kir DATELINE:*Baghdad, Nov 13, 2015 (AFP) -

Mourners and militiamen chant slogans against ISIS as they carry the flag-draped coffins of two members of the Peace Brigades, a Shiite militia group, during their funeral procession in south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (AP)

Suicide bomber kills at least 19 in Baghdad funeral

19 people were killed and 33 wounded when a suicide bomber attacked a funeral of a Shiite fighter

Published: 13 November ,2015: 12:00 AM GST Updated: 20 May ,2020: 10:47 AM GST

1 min read

Attacks targeting Shiites in Baghdad, including a suicide bombing at a funeral in a mosque, killed at least 19 people Friday, security and medical officials said.

The suicide bombing inside the Al-Ashara al-Mubashareen mosque in the Amil area of south Baghdad killed at least 17 people and wounded 33, the officials said.

Two officials said the funeral was for a member of the volunteer paramilitary force known as the Popular Mobilisation units.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but suicide bombings are a tactic used exclusively by Sunni extremists in Iraq, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) jihadist group, who consider Shiites to be heretics.

The Popular Mobilisation units -- which are dominated by Iranian-backed Shiite militias -- are some of the most effective forces in the battle against ISIS, which overran large parts of the country last year.