This Muslim Man Saved Hundreds Of Lives By Hugging An ISIS Suicide Bomber

It's stories like this one about a Muslim man sacrificing himself to save hundreds of lives that remind you the world isn't going completely to hell.

According to India Times, Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi noticed an ISIS suicide bomber heading into the Sayyed Mohammad Shrine in Balad, Iraq on Thursday.

In what could only be perceived as a move to protect both the shrine and those within it, Al-Baldawi grabbed the bomber – who was wearing explosives in a vest – and hugged him before the bomb detonated, according to Al Masdar News.

What a twist of irony that a terrorist filled with hate would be stopped by a common sign of love and affection.

According to early reports from a source in a Balad hospital, the attack – which also involved a firefight between Iraqi forces and additional suicide bombers – injured about 65 people and killed about 35 others.

But the damage could have been much worse. Al-Baldawi's body reportedly took the brunt of the force of the explosion, and stopped the attack from killing many more, India Times reports.

According to other reports, Al-Baldawi succeeded in keeping the bomber outside the shrine, which helped minimize damage to the building.

This video reportedly shows a fire that broke out in the aftermath of the explosion.

According to Metro, ISIS claimed the attack, which was then condemned by a United Nations representative in Iraq, as well as people on Twitter.

Jan Kubis, the UN's top Iraq envoy, reportedly said,

It is clear the cowardly attack on the shrine aims to spark sectarian tensions and drag Iraq back to the dark days of sectarian conflict.

I suppose it only makes sense that it would take an extreme, violent act of cowardice to prove that there are still heroes like Najih Shaker Al-Baldawi: a man who gave his life to protect the lives of others.

My thoughts are with the families of the victims.

Citations: Muslim Man Hugs ISIS Militant Armed Wearing Suicide Vest Before Explosion, Saves Hundreds Of Lives (India Times), Iraqi man's heroics prevents ISIS suicide bomber from killing more civilians (Al Masdar News), Hero hugged suicide bomber to save other people's lives Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/10/hero-hugged-suicide-bomber-to-save-other-peoples-lives-5997398/#ixzz4E6yiZFD6 (Metro)