27 killed in southern Beirut suburb explosions

Two suicide explosions rock the city's southern suburb which is a stronghold of Lebanese Hezbollah


Reuters November 12, 2015
Residents inspect damaged area caused by two explosions in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 12, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

BEIRUT: At least 27 people were killed and dozens wounded on Thursday in two suicide bomb blasts in a crowded district in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Shia Muslim militant movement Hezbollah.

The blasts occurred almost simultaneously and struck a Shia community centre and a nearby bakery in the commercial and residential area of Borj al-Barajneh, security sources said.

Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said a third suicide bomber had been killed by one of the explosions.

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The blasts, which were also close to a closely guarded Hezbollah-run hospital, were the first attacks for more than a year in a stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has sent fighters to Syria to fight alongside President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the country's civil war.

Medics rushed to treat the wounded after the explosions, which damaged shopfronts and left the street stained with blood and littered with broken glass.

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The army set up checkpoints at all entrances to the southern suburbs and Hezbollah's own security force was on high alert.

COMMENTS (1)

Skywalker | 8 years ago | Reply Sad News. Lebanon - once a Christian majority nation now reaping benefits of demographic change.
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