Beirut, explosion in a Hezbollah-controlled neighborhood: 5 dead

BEIRUT – Another attack in the capital of the Philippines, a few days after the one that caused the death of the Sunni politician  , a former finance minister. A car bomb exploded in the neighborhood of Haret Hreik, a stronghold of the Shiite Hezbollah political party, killing 5 people. The Lebanese Ministry of Health says there would be more than 70 wounded.

The bomb, which exploded around the 16 rooms in a highly populated area, damaged dozens of cars parked nearby, as well as several commercial and residential buildings. The car, a green SUV carrying around 20 kilograms of TNT, would be parked in a double row by a suicide bomber who would then activate the detonator.

The explosion took place near the old headquarters of Al-Manar, Hezbollah’s TV station, and some homes of leaders of the Lebanese Shiite group. Hezbollah confirmed that no politician was injured in the explosion. According to some witnesses, the charred remains of the kamikaze were found at the site of the attack.

“Terrorism makes no difference between Sunnis and Shiites – declared Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati – the situation will worsen if we do not meet and face our problems far from the language of challenge and exclusion”.

Also, the UN general secretary, Ban Ki-Moon, commented on the difficult situation in Lebanon, hit by two attacks in less than ten days: ”

02 January 2014