Bomb Defused near Hizbullah Ashura Gathering in Haret Saida

The army on Sunday dismantled an explosive device that was placed near a Ashura gathering in the predominantly Shiite Sidon suburb of Haret Saida.

“The army defused an armed explosive device weighing 500 grams that was found on the Haret Saida road,” state-run National News Agency reported.

Later on Sunday, the Army Command issued a statement saying “a military expert defused the bomb in Haret Saida and it was not detonated, contrary to what some media outlets reported.”

“Following search and investigations, an army intelligence patrol discovered at 6:00 pm near the Sayyed al-Shohada complex in Haret Saida an explosive device consisted of 500 grams of TNT, a hand grenade and an electric detonator,” the statement said.

The army noted that the bomb was set for remote detonation, adding that a probe has been launched into the incident.

MTV had earlier said that the army “detonated two hand grenades that were in a bag placed near a Ashura gathering organized by Hizbullah in Haret Saida.”

Security measures have been beefed up in the country ahead of the tenth day of Ashura, which will be commemorated in mass rallies on Tuesday.

Fears have been raised over possible terrorist attacks against Ashura mourning gatherings in the wake of Hizbullah's participation in the fighting in Syria in support of the country's regime.

Unarmed members of Hizbullah and AMAL Movement have been seen near security forces checkpoints in Beirut's southern suburbs, particularly in neighborhoods where the congregations are being held.

Ashura marks the death of Imam Hussein, one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam, over 1,300 years ago.

Millions of Shiites around the world mark Ashura, which this year climaxes on November 3, by setting up mourning tents and staging rallies.