HOLY KARBALA, Iraq: At least eight pilgrims were martyred and 46 injured when a powerful car bomb exploded on Saturday close to the holy shrine of Abu’l Fazl Al-Abbas bin Ali (AS) in the central holy city of Karbala.

The blast erupted at 10:45 am (0745 GMT) Saturday at Al-Abbas street in front of Al-Abbas (AS) mausoleum.

The golden dome and minarets of the Al-Abbas shrine remained safe in video footage shown on Iraqi state TV, but the powerful blast set many parked cars on fire in a nearby street.

Despite thick smoke and flames, crowds of bystanders converged on the scene but were driven back by police, fearful of follow-up blasts.

Karbala city authorities ordered roads into the city closed to traffic from other towns, allowing only residents to circulate in the shrine until the situation stabilises.

Meanwhile, holy Najaf city – homer to the holy mausoleum of Al-Imam Ali (AS) - has been sealed after the attack near holy Abbasi shrine in the holy city of Karbala.