Investigations Ongoing over Tripoli Blasts as Death Toll Rises to 45

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At least 45 people were killed and about 500 others wounded in the two blasts that rocked the northern city of Tripoli amid reports saying that the explosive-laden car that hit al-Salam mosque was rigged with 175 kilograms of explosives.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Saturday, the car used in the blast near al-Salam mosque is a Ford jeep rigged with 175 kilograms of TNT, while military experts are still identifying the car used in the second explosion, which targeted the Taqwa mosque in the northern city.

Witnesses told As Safir newspaper that they saw a person parking a Honda Civic near al-Salam mosque and left the car to take another, minutes before the blast took place.

The two explosions caused extensive material damage in the two areas.

Both blasts hit at the hour of weekly Muslim prayers, in a city where Sunni supporters of Syria's rebels engage in frequent, often deadly, clashes with Alawites, who back President Bashar Assad regime.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that the preliminary investigation at al-Salam blast scene showed that the bomb contained TNT and nitrate.

Informed sources told the newspaper that the two booby-trapped cars probably contain timers and were detonated from a distance while worshipers were performing their weekly Muslim prayers.

The sources pointed out that the competent security agencies weren't able to thoroughly examine the scene of the second blast that took place near the Taqwa mosque due to the angry residents that prevented them from carrying out their tasks.

The state-run National news agency reported that the death toll in the two explosions reached 45 and 160 others wounded are in a critical condition.

That was the highest toll in an attack since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, and brought condemnation from Western powers, the United Nations and Syria.

Coming a week after a bombing in the Beirut bastion of Hizbullah, a close ally of Bashar Assad, the bombings in the northern port of Tripoli risk further stoking tensions between supporters and foes of the Syrian president.

Comments 7
Thumb LebCynic 24 August 2013, 08:56

tonyfarris, do you have any evidences to your accusation? Or are you simply adding to the fetnah for personal or political gain? This should be a time for all Lebanese to unite and stand in the face of extremism not point fingers..

Missing Cloudhopper 24 August 2013, 14:24

Unite, any proof? wtf do you guys live on Mars, blood will follow blood, fuck your peace tiger and distructive, split Lebanon in 3 regions, because that is what Lebanese want, War and Blood. If you don't believe me, just read the comments on any article.

Missing greatpierro 24 August 2013, 14:39

Ok ok, but so far what we have seen from the Assad regime can only confort us that any aggression done to Lebanon comes from this evil regime.

Missing VINCENT 24 August 2013, 14:21

Don't worry guys this is a "Twilight Zone" episode. After the season finally, we'll turn off our TVs and go live together happily ever after. How much longer are you going to fool yourselves or allow others to fool you? Assad said it a while back "if you continue to attack me, the whole region will be in chaos". Napoleon said: "Après moi le déluge."

Missing greatpierro 24 August 2013, 14:40

of course there is a lot of hate; how can you not hate the assad regime after what ut has done to lebanon and to its leaders.

Default-user-icon John (Guest) 24 August 2013, 15:15

You are all idiots and losers and have nothing else to do!

Thumb Senescence 24 August 2013, 17:59

Bachir would be proud.