[VIDEO+PHOTOS] Suicide bomber kills three persons in Hermel

The state-run National News Agency reported on Saturday that an explosion took place at a petrol station near the al-Mabarrat school at the entrance of Hermel town.

The agency cited witnesses who said that the explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber who entered the gas station and asked to buy fuel before detonating the bomb, leaving a metre-deep hole in the ground and setting the station and nearby cars on fire.

This as al-Nusra Front in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the attack later on.

Following the explosion, Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam said that the attack is a "coward terrorist act" that must be a motivation for rival Lebanese parties to unite to address sedition and to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and security apparatuses. 

This as caretaker Prime Minister condemned the attack, urging all Lebanese people "to unite to save the country."

In turn, Caretaker Minister of Health Ali Hassan Khalil said that 3 persons were killed and 28 others were injured in the explosion.

As well, al-Mabarrat school assured that the orphans at the school are all alive and doing well.

For his part, Caretaker Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel told LBCI that preliminary information showed that the suicide bomber used a Grand Cherokee car to carry out the explosion.

This as State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr tasked concerned authorities to carry out the preliminary investigation and collect proofs and human remains from the explosion's site.

For his part, Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel said that Lebanese leaders must assume their responsibilities, adding that security bodies' achievements in uncovering perpetrators "show their capabilities in this regard."

Head of Hermel's municipality Sobhi Saqr said that the fire was extinguished at the explosion's location, urging all Hermel's residents to allow Security Forces "to do their job", calling on all media outlets not to broadcast "any inaccurate information."

The blast, near a school and a building housing a charity, is the second explosion in the town of Hermel in less than three weeks.


To watch the full video, please click on the image above.