Rasa News Agency reports - Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims are journeying to Karbala, south west of Baghdad, to commemorate Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. The 40-day observance has become a common target for acts of terror.
One particular group of pilgrims was making its way from Khales, north east of the capital, when the suicide bomber targeted them.
Anticipating a devastating tragedy, 34-year-old policeman, Ayyub Khalaf, threw himself on to the assailant, catching him in a tight embrace, and shielding the pilgrims from the full impact of the blast.
Khalaf was one of the five who died as the explosion ripped through the bystanders.
“Ayyub was martyred while defending pilgrims, and his name will be an eternal symbol because he saved the lives of dozens of innocents,” Khalaf’s friend, Saad Naim told AFP, adding that Khalaf himself was married with two children.
“We will take revenge on the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization,” he stated, though Al-Qaeda, or any other group, has not claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack.