Though the attack involved armed squads, car bombs, and up to a dozen suicide bombers, there was also an explosive-laden vehicle which was intercepted while trying to enter Basra, as were two suicide bombers in Karbala and others in Baghdad who had entered via Syria.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the American commander in Baghdad, accused Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as being "one of the chief suspects" involved in directing the attacks.
[2] Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a highly influential Shiite in Iraq, blamed the U.S. for allowing the attacks to occur, but Kimmitt had agreed with Shiite leaders to vacate the shrines out of respect for cultural differences.
US appointed Iraqi governing council condemned the attacks and announced a mourning period of three days.
Due to this decision, the signing of an interim Iraqi constitution, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed as confirmed by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, a council member.