Iraqi officials: Car bomb attack kills 4 Shiite pilgrims heading to shrines south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Iraqi authorities say a car bomb has killed four Shiite pilgrims as they were heading to shrines in the country's south.

Police officials say the Thursday morning attack involved a car bomb that struck a bus carrying the pilgrims near the Shiite holy city of Karbala. The blast also wounded 12 pilgrims.

A medical official in a nearby hospital confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Violence has ebbed in across Iraq, but insurgents frequently attack security forces and Shiite pilgrims in an attempt to undermine the country's Shiite-led government.