Najaf: Najaf Police Command issued a statement clarifying what happened at Alawi shrine. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the statement by Najaf Police explained that several media outlets and social networking sites reported news of a mobile phone battery explosion inside the shrine of Imam Ali, peace be upon him.

The statement further elaborated that the incident was a very simple burning of a phone battery near one of the checkpoints, rather than an actual explosion. Najaf Police urged the public and media to ensure accuracy in transmitting information and to verify news from its original sources.