A loud
explosion was heard on Wednesday morning in South Beirut's Bir Hassan region near the Iranian Cultural Center, across the Kuwaiti Embassy roundabout.
Preliminary information revealed that the explosion appeared to be caused by a twin bomb attack using a car and a motorcycle.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) then reported that the blasts were the result of two booby-trapped vehicles identified as a Mercedes and a BMW; a statement confirmed by the Lebanese Armed Forces’ Orientation Directorate.
The Lebanese Army Command issued a statement whereby it said that on Wednesday at 9:25 am, two simultaneous suicide bombings rocked the South Beirut's Bir Hassan region, the first caused by 75 kilograms of explosives and mortar shells planted inside a Mercedes vehicle holding a forged registration plate number 121363/Z, originally belonging to a Citroen vehicle owned by Souheil Edward Abdullah. The second explosion was caused by 90 kilograms of explosives and mortar shells placed inside a black BMW X5 with a registration plate number 158298/S, which was stolen on the airport road and belongs to Mohammad Ali Issa.
Lebanese Armed Forces Units had immediately intervened and cordoned off the area while a military police unit arrived along with experts to examine the scene of explosion, the army command added.
The army command also called on relatives of the victims to head to the Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam hospital on Wednesday afternoon to conduct DNA tests.
It is worth noting that the explosions were also close to an orphanage house run by an Islamic charity and an army barracks.
Sources revealed to LBCI that the fake ID card found at the explosion site and believed to have belonged to one of the suicide bombers, belongs to Mokhtar Hussam Hallaq.
Sources told LBCI that Arsal resident identified as A. A. is suspected to be one of Bir Hassan’s suicide bombers, noting that his mother is undergoing DNA tests to confirm the identity. The sources added that the suspect is a student at the Islamic University.
The Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for twin attack via their twitter account, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda and one that had previously attacked the area citing Hezbollah's interference in the Syrian crisis as the main reason, demanding the release of Muslim inmates from Lebanese prisons.
The Abdullah Azzam Brigades also said on Twitter that more details about the "invasion of the Iranian cultural center by your brothers" in the Sunni radical group will be given.
Security forces cordoned off the site of the explosion, as Red Cross teams transported the injured persons to nearby hospitals.
Lebanese Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh told LBCI that 3 persons were killed, and at least 128 others were injured in Bir Hassan’s explosion. Other sources claimed that the death toll stood 4, including the two suicide bombers.
For his part, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour called on the hospitals to open their doors and receive all casualties to provide them with the necessary treatment, noting that the death toll of the explosion stands at 6 and may include the remains of the 2 suicide bombers.
Minister Abou Faour also stated that at least 103 persons were injured in the explosions.
Meanwhile, State Commissioner to the Military Court, Judge Saqr Saqr tasked security apparatuses to investigate the Bir Hassan explosion, and mentioned that the explosives in the BMW vehicle weighed 90 KGs, and in the Mercedes 70 KGs.
Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq along with Hezbollah Liaison and Coordination official, Hajj Wafik Safa headed to the scene of the explosion.
Minister Mashnouq said the suicide explosions target all Lebanese nationals, pointing out that the government will take the necessary measures to confront the “phenomenon of suicide bombers.”
In turn, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, whose Cabinet was formed on Saturday, said the blast is "a message by forces of terrorism to continue in their plan to spread death in Lebanon."
"We got the message and we will respond to it with solidarity and our commitment to peace," he said.
Wednesday's blasts came after Lebanese troops recently detained an alleged mastermind of similar attacks. Officials said he led them to several vehicles rigged with explosives.
One of the deadliest attacks occurred in November when two suicide attackers blew themselves outside the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, killing 23 people and wounded dozens. That attack was claimed by the Abdullah Azzam Brigades.
Beirut's southern suburbs are a stronghold for Lebanon's Hezbollah and have been the target of several bomb attacks in recent months.
Kuwaiti Embassy:
The Kuwaiti Embassy confirmed the safety of its employees, stating that none of them were injured in the explosion.
Similarly, the Iranian embassy in Beirut issued a statement whereby it said that no injuries were reported among the diplomatic figures and staff members of the Iranian Cultural Center.
REUTERS/LBCI
To watch Edmond Sassine's report, please click on the VIDEO above
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