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POWERFUL CAR BOMBS outside two Sunni Muslim mosques in the Lebanese city of Tripoli, have killed at least 27 people and wounding over 350, according to the country’s Health Minister.
“Up to now, there are 27 martyrs and 352 wounded in hospitals,” Ali Hassan Khalil said on television, without saying whether this was the final toll.
Both explosions took place as worshippers were filing out after weekly Muslim prayers, in a city where Sunni supporters of rebels in neighbouring Syria frequently clash with Alawites, who support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
The first blast hit in the city centre and was also near the home of outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, although his office said he was not in Tripoli at the time.
The second struck near the port of the restive city with a Sunni majority, close to the home of former police chief Ashraf Rifi, a security source said.
An AFP reporter saw a number of charred bodies near the Al-Taqwa mosque and the bodies of five children brought out from it.
Lebanese television channels aired footage of the dead, of buildings with their fronts blown in and vehicles ablaze, as bystanders rushed to help the wounded.
Lebanese army soldiers stand next to a blast crater outside a mosque
(STR/AP/Press Association Images)
The explosions come a week after a suicide car bombing killed 27 people in a Beirut stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad’s forces.
On Wednesday, army chief General Jean Kahwaji said his forces were fighting a “total war” against terrorism whose aim is “to provoke sectarian strife” in the country.
Tripoli, on the Mediterranean coast around 85km north of the capital Beirut , has seen frequent Syria-related violence over the past two years, including waves of deadly clashes.
Though Lebanon is officially neutral in Syria’s conflict, the country is deeply divided, with Hezbollah and its allies backing Assad and the opposition supporting the rebels.
There were no Irish troops in the region, a spokesperson for the Defence Forces confirmed to TheJournal.ie. All Irish peacekeeping forces are located in southern Lebanon.
- Additional reporting, Daragh Brophy
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Targeting people as they come from a place of worship, and they probably shouted “Allah u Akbar” as the bombs exploded. Disgusting.
sad how Lebanon too is feeling the effects of the Syrian conflict. Lebanese people have suffered enough down through the years
There are disgusting little people that think it is heroic to walk into a crowd of people who happen not to believe in the same dogma as themselves and blow themselves up causing the deaths of innocent human beings. They also believe that they are going to be welcomed into paradise by Allah where they will have virgins and wine for eternity.
No doubt their mums are saddened but proud that their sons have martyred themselves for Allah and are now in Paradise………….These people are disgusting, ignorant savages deserve nothing but contempt.
SF/IRA heroes to the deluded.
Pauric why bring the IRA and Sinn Fein into every topic, it’s really tedious at this stage. Change the record dude, or at least wait for a relevant article.
Jamie, blowing people to pieces always reminds me of the IRA.
Like the British government hasn’t done anything of the like…feck off trolling please
Pretty sure this was not a suicide attack.
Is it human nature to destroy itself? If man was made in His own image, then God is one hell of a suicide case.
It is reminiscent of the IRA who blew people apart so that they could be free.
@Pauric no mention of what happened in Dublin/Monaghan though. Stupid acts of violence will never sort problems no matter what side carries it out.
Why don’t you bring up the shankill butchers.
Is it safe to visit the South Circular Road ?
Where is David Thompson? Do not give up David you are missed.
Maybe he caught a dose of thundering clap from a pride marcher!!
have your say