HOLY NAJAF, Iraq: A suicide bomb attack at the gate of Alawi shrine compound in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday Aug. 10 left at least 40 pilgrims martyred and more than 110 injured.
According to Police sources the bomber blew himself up when he was stopped at a checkpoint as he was heading to the holy Imam Ali shrine. 

The Najaf bombing occurred at about 10.30 a.m. in the Grand Market — packed with pilgrims and shoppers — in front of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (p), Prophet Muhammad (p)'s cousin and son-in-law.

"Before I reached the checkpoint, only a few meters (feet) from the shrine, I heard a huge explosion. Something hit me on the head and I fell. I couldn't hear for a while but I saw bodies and human flesh everywhere," said Shakir Obeid Hassan, one of those injured, from his hospital bed.

The Grand Market, sprawling in front of the shrine's entrance, consists of a wide road with shops lining both sides, selling a variety of wares such as perfumes, gold and silver jewelry, clothes and religious souvenirs, including rings with sacred pictures.