Attacks in Iraq’s Tikrit and Samarra kill at least 21; curfews in both towns

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – At least 21 people were killed in two suicide bomb attacks south of Mosul Sunday in Tikrit and Samarra, where authorities imposed curfews citing fears of further attacks.

The deadliest attack targeted the southern entrance of Tikrit, the capital of Salahaddin province, Iraq’s Noon news agency reported, with Reuters saying the bombing killed at least 13 people.

The second bomb, about 67 km south of Tikrit and reportedly planted in an ambulance, targeted a main entrance of Samarra city.  

Samarra TV reported that attack “killing and injuring a number of people,” while Reuters said eight people were killed and the attack was targeted at Shiite pilgrims.

Samarra is one of the holiest cities for Shiite Muslims and attracts pilgrims from Shiite Iran and beyond. Iraqi media reports said there were two Iranian pilgrims among the casualties.

Authorities reportedly imposed curfews in both Tikrit and Samarra.

Samarra TV also reported a roadside bomb hit a police vehicle that was transporting displaced persons – made homeless because of fighting in Mosul and around -- but did not report any casualties.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for any of the attacks, but ISIS has been on the defensive in Iraq since an Oct. 17 joint offensive to evict the militants from their stronghold of Mosul.