REPORT: Tripoli residents stage sit in as show of collaboration with families of twin blast victims

Residents of the northern city of Tripoli staged on Friday a sit-in in a show of collaboration with families of the Tripoli twin blast victims.

This as MP Mohammad Kabbara told LBCI that the "two crimes must be referred to the Judicial Council," adding that there are "plots" against the city.

For his part, MP Khaled Daher accused the Syrian regime of being behind the two blasts, voicing shock for the failure of the Lebanese state in expelling the Syrian ambassador and cutting diplomatic ties with Syria.

As well, MP Mouin Mourabi accused the Lebanese Armed Forces of "plotting with the Syrian regime against the city."

The State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged on Tuesday [05-11] Arab Democratic Party leader former MP Ali Eid and his driver Ahmed Mohammed Ali with smuggling suspect Ahmad Merhi suspected for involvement in the case of Tripoli's twin blasts.

A search and investigation warrant was issued against former MP Eid earlier.

Judge Saqr also charged Syrian national Sukeina Ismail with plotting to transfer the two car bombs from Syria into Lebanon.

On Friday the 23rd of August, two explosions rocked the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli near the al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques, leaving 45 killed and almost 500 others injured.

In the details, one blast occurred outside the al-Taqwa mosque as Friday prayers ended, while the other hit central Tripoli near the al-Salam mosque facing the residence of the former general director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces Major General Ashraf Rifi.

The al-Taqwa mosque is where hardline Salafist Sheikh Salem Rafei preaches. He has been known for his anti-Syrian regime sentiment.

The blasts came amid rising tension in Lebanon resulting from Syria's civil war, which has sharply polarized the country along sectarian lines and between supporters and opponents of the regime of President Bashar Assad.


To watch Edmond Sassine's report, please click on the VIDEO above