IS bomb sows carnage among pilgrims

Most of the 73 dead were Iranian citizens who were attending the Arbaeen commemoration

A suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed 73 people, mainly Shiite pilgrims, south of Baghdad on Thursday, as Iraqi forces battle to retake Mosul from the extremists.

The huge truck bomb blast ripped through a petrol station where packed buses returning from the Arbaeen commemoration in Karbala were parked, officials said.