Suicide bomber kills 54 in Iraq

BAGHDAD – A female suicide bomber detonated her explosives inside a way station for Shiite pilgrims Monday, killing 54 people and rattling security officials who are struggling against a possible rise in violence before key elections next month.

The attack was the third major strike by suspected Sunni insurgents in a week and left Baghdad’s top security official acknowledging that extremists are adopting new methods to outwit bomb-detection squads such as stashing explosives deep inside the engines and frames of vehicles.

U.S. and Iraqi officials are deeply concerned that insurgents such as al-Qaida in Iraq could step up violence before March 7 parliamentary elections.

Shiite pilgrims are easy targets for bombers who can mingle with the crowds streaming on roads to shrines and other sites. Hundreds of thousands of people are walking this week toward Karbala in southern Iraq before the culmination of religious events Friday – marking the end of 40 days of mourning following the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, a revered Shiite figure.

Iraqi security forces have promised to protect the pilgrims with expanded patrols and checkpoints. But Monday’s bombing shows the challenges of trying to find a single attacker among the throng.

The bomber hid the explosives beneath an abaya – a woman’s black cloak worn from head to toe – as she joined pilgrims on the outskirts of Baghdad’s Shiite-dominated neighborhood of Shaab, said Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad’s top military spokesman.

The bomber set off the blast — described as a huge fireball – as she lined up to be searched by female security guards inside a rest tent serving sherbet and tea.