A Muslim Hugs a Suicide Bomber, Saving Hundreds of Lives

A Muslim man recently saved hundreds of lives after hugging a suicide bomber in Balad, a city in Iraq.

The bomber's target was the town's shrine where hundreds of people were located, according to reports.

Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi stopped the terrorist from entering the building by hugging him before the explosive was detonated.

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

Baldawi absorbed most of the impact from the explosion and reduced the possibility of hundreds dying. Instead, only 37 people died and 70 were injured.

The last major attack in Iraq on July 3 claimed 300 lives and marked the deadliest single attack there since Saddam Hussein's reign 13 years ago. ISIS bombers had disguised themselves as local militia in order to storm and destroy the country's so called "most important" shrine. 

The video of the most recent attack where Baldawi sacrificed his own life has been shared on various media outlets around the world. 

The aftermath of the explosion can be seen here: