UPDATED Explosions near Iranian Embassy in Beirut kill 7
Cause of explosions unclear, but local reports say 2 car bombs
Two explosions have struck Tuesday near the Iranian Embassy killing at least 7, in Beirut, Lebanon. The area is a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group, which is a main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war next door. (Hussein Malla/The Associated Press)
Two explosions struck Tuesday near the Iranian Embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, killing at least seven people, wounding scores and causing wide damage to the mission and nearby buildings.
An Associated Press photographer counted at least five bodies after the blasts in south Beirut. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations said the explosions killed seven and wounded more than a dozen.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the explosions, and local reports said the blasts were caused by two car bombs.
The main, black gate of the Iranian embassy was blown out and there was damage to the three-story facility. It was not known if anyone inside was hurt.
Debris was scattered on the street and cars were on fire as people ran away from the chaotic scene. The second blast was metres away from the embassy.
Blasts may be related to Syria's civil war
The predominantly Shia south Beirut has been targeted in the past months with car bombs and rockets in what Syrian rebels say is retaliation to the militant Hezbollah group's involvement in the battles along Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria's civil war.
Iran has been one of Assad's strongest supporters supplying him with money and weapons since the Syrian crisis began in March 2011.
An armed guard of the Iranian embassy told AP that the first blast was believed to have been carried out by a suicide attacker who rode a motorcycle and blew himself outside the gate. The other explosion, that caused much more damage, was a car bomb, the guard said.
A charred motorcycle stood outside the gate.
TV footage showed at least two dead people in the street nearby. Other wounded men covered with blood were seen across the street of the embassy.
The blasts in south Beirut's posh neighbourhood of Janah also caused extensive damage on the nearby buildings. The area is a stronghold of Hezbollah. It's not clear if the blasts are related to Syria's civil war.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/explosions-near-iranian-embassy-in-beirut-kill-7-1.2431607?cmp=rss
Two explosions struck Tuesday near the Iranian Embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, killing at least seven people, wounding scores and causing wide damage to the mission and nearby buildings.
An Associated Press photographer counted at least five bodies after the blasts in south Beirut. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations said the explosions killed seven and wounded more than a dozen.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the explosions, and local reports said the blasts were caused by two car bombs.
The main, black gate of the Iranian embassy was blown out and there was damage to the three-story facility. It was not known if anyone inside was hurt.
Debris was scattered on the street and cars were on fire as people ran away from the chaotic scene. The second blast was metres away from the embassy.
Blasts may be related to Syria's civil war
The predominantly Shia south Beirut has been targeted in the past months with car bombs and rockets in what Syrian rebels say is retaliation to the militant Hezbollah group's involvement in the battles along Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria's civil war.
Iran has been one of Assad's strongest supporters supplying him with money and weapons since the Syrian crisis began in March 2011.
An armed guard of the Iranian embassy told AP that the first blast was believed to have been carried out by a suicide attacker who rode a motorcycle and blew himself outside the gate. The other explosion, that caused much more damage, was a car bomb, the guard said.
A charred motorcycle stood outside the gate.
TV footage showed at least two dead people in the street nearby. Other wounded men covered with blood were seen across the street of the embassy.
The blasts in south Beirut's posh neighbourhood of Janah also caused extensive damage on the nearby buildings. The area is a stronghold of Hezbollah. It's not clear if the blasts are related to Syria's civil war.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/explosions-near-iranian-embassy-in-beirut-kill-7-1.2431607?cmp=rss
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