New Delhi, July 10: After the deadly attack that killed nearly 300 people in Baghdad this months, a second attack by an ISIS suicide bomber claimed 26 lives on Friday. However, the death toll could have been much higher had it not been for Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi, a local resident of Balad. The man, now being hailed as a hero, mitigated the impact of the blast embracing the suicide bomber just before he was about to pull the trigger. Also Read - International Flights: Air India Plans To Operate Special Flight From Basra To New Delhi On September 17 | Details Here

As a result, Al-Baldawi’s body absorbed most of the impact from the explosion. According to local media, the suicide bomber’s target was the Sayyed Mohammad Shrine, a Shiite shrine 80 km north of Baghdad. Hundreds of Muslims, including women and children, were present at the shrine celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. In addition to destroying the shrine, the suicide bomber also intended to kill policemen guarding the shrine. Also Read - Delhi 'ISIS' Operative Arrest: 'Explosives Found in Raid at Suspect's Home', Says Police

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According to Iraqi police officials, 26 people died and a number of other were injured. This attacks comes days after the attack in Baghdad, which killed almost 300 people. It was the deadliest attack in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. ISIS claimed responsibility for both attacks.

An honourable man from #Balad, Najih Shakir,holds the suicide bomber & attains martyrdom,preventing many more deaths pic.twitter.com/fFKZhxZvv7 — Mohammed Al-Hilli (@malhilli) July 8, 2016



The sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims have claimed thousands of lives over the years. Hezbollah was quick to denounce the attack in “a sacred place where Holy God is worshipped reflects the contempt of those criminals for the sanctities”.

The statement release by Hezbollah’s Media relations further added, “this new crime confirms that the terrorists’ murder crimes target in an undistinguishing way the Muslims and the Christians as well as the Sunnites and the Shiites without minding the sanctity of blood, time and place”.

(Image Source: Twitter)