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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Small explosion causes panic in Beirut but no injuries |
| 2007-05-10 |
| A small explosion Wednesday followed by a bomb scare in two Christian neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital caused no injuries or damage but created huge traffic jams and panic among some residents in this capital city. There were conflicting reports as to what caused the explosion in the Tahwita neighborhood, which ripped through an empty lot near the Armenian cemetery. Police and army experts said it was caused by a rusting, left over grenade that detonated because of a fire in a garbage dump. But a major private Lebanese television station, LBC, had reported earlier that a stick of dynamite or a concussion bomb was tossed from a speeding car into an empty lot. The explosion caused panic among residents as police and armed troops deployed in the area and investigators began sifting through the dirt to pick up evidence. Two fire engines were sent to the neighborhood, which includes the Medical Association offices and a number of government buildings. Shortly afterward, army troops surrounded Sayyad roundabout , another Beirut neighborhood as they investigated a suitcase suspected of containing explosives, causing a massive traffic jam in the area. The suitcase was found to be empty. Lebanon has been rocked by a series of explosions since late 2004, mostly targeting anti-Syrian politicians, journalists and businesses in Christian neighborhoods. The largest of the explosions was the February 2005 truck bombing that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in downtown Beirut. Three people were killed and 20 wounded near Beirut in near simultaneous bombings on two buses on Feb. 13. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Small explosion causes panic in Beirut but no injuries Just another bad batch of falafel, I guess. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-10 01:15 |