Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Explosion rocks Beirut suburb

Explosion rocks Beirut suburb

The explosion is said to have happened in a Hezbollah stronghold

A suspected bomb explosion has reportedly killed two people in a Hezbollah stronghold in a Shia-dominated southern suburb of Beirut.

Flames were seen pouring from the facade of a multi-storey building, with large plumes of smoke.

Local media quoted officials as saying it was caused by a suicide bomber.

There has been a spike in sectarian tension in Lebanon blamed on the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Hezbollah forces have been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Lebanese Sunni Muslims tend to back the Syrian opposition.

Al-Manar said the blast occurred in Arid Street in Harat Hreik district. Large crowds gathered at the scene as Hezbollah's emergency services worked to extinguish the blaze.

It is the latest of several recent explosions in Lebanon. Five people were killed an many others injured by a bomb blast on 2 January in the same Beirut district.

Former minister Mohamad Chatah, a Sunni and a critic of Hezbollah, was killed with five others by a car bomb in December.

Scene of Beirut explosion, 21 January 2014 Flames were seen coming out of the building

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