Panic broke out among thousands of Shi'ite Muslims marching over a bridge crossing the Tigris River during a religious procession on Wednesday. Rumors circulated that there would be a suicide bombing in the area which resulted in the stampede and panic. Once things were brought under control, at least 648 people had been killed in the melee and at least 322 more were injured, man of them seriously.
According to Interior Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Adnan Abdul-Rahman, most of the dead were woman and children. Many fell or leaped off the bridge into the Tigris roughly 30 feet below. Many were trampled to death in the ensuing panic. Ambulances and private cars rushed injured survivors to local hospitals.
The marchers were headed towards a religious shrine. The tomb of Imam Mousa al-Kadhim, a 9th century Shiite saint, is located approximately one mile from the site of the incident.
Tensions were already high as a mortar attack was made against the shrine less than two hours before the procession began.
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shi'ite, declared a three-day mourning period.
Interior Minister Bayn Jabr explained the government's official explanation of the incident.
'Pushing started when a rumor was spread by a terrorist who claimed that there was a person with an explosive belt, which caused panic,' Jabr said. 'Some fell from the bridge, others fell on the barricades' and were trampled to death.
A further investigation into the incident is expected. The death toll may also rise as new bodies are discovered or some of the injured succumb to their wounds.
