Two powerful explosions ripped through neighborhoods near mosques in the northern Lebanon city of Tripoli Friday, state media reported. At least 27 people died and 358 were wounded, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing the health minister.
Heavy gunfire was heard following the explosions, Tripoli residents told CNN.
The first blast occurred near al Taqwa mosque, which is led by a Sunni sheikh known for his links to Syrian rebels, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said.
The second, which occurred minutes later, happened near al Salam mosque, close to the residence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, as well as Samir Al-Jisr, a Sunni member of parliament and the former head of the country’s Internal Security Forces, Ashraf Rifi.
Rifi is despised by Hezbollah and Lebanese politicians friendly to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
It was unclear if any of those figures were targets of the attack, but NNA said two Salafist sheikhs believed possible targets of the blasts were unharmed in the explosions.
Mikati is not in Tripoli, NNA reported.
The second blast produced a crater 5 meters (16.4 feet) across and caused damage to six nearby residential buildings, according to NNA. More than 60 cars were incinerated, the news agency said.
Eyewitness video posted to YouTube purporting to be of the al Taqwa blast showed thick smoke, flames and what appeared to be burning vehicles. Another video posted to Facebook showed a large plume of smoke rising into the air near what is said to be the mosque site.
CNN could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the videos.
Mikati issued a statement via Twitter condeming the bombings.
“We urge our children and brothers in Tripoli to practice self restraint and we pledge to them that we will always stand by them especially during these critical times,” he said.
“Tripoli and its residents he will prove once again that they are stronger than the conspiracy and will not allow the strife to undermine their resilience and their faith in God and the homeland,” the prime minister tweeted.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut also condemned the violence and called on Twitter for “calm & restraint.”
The blasts come amid sectarian tensions in Lebanon over the civil war in neighboring Syria. There have been sectarian battles in Tripoli between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime.
Also active in southern Lebanon is Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group, which has been sending its fighters to Syria to help the government.
A car bombing in a southern suburb of Beirut this month rocked a Hezbollah stronghold, killing at least 22 people and injuring hundreds.
Source: Agencies
