Hariri's Adviser Shatah Killed in Huge Explosion that Rocked Beirut
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A heavy explosion that rocked the capital Beirut on Friday targeted the convoy of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's adviser.
Shatah's vehicle license was located in the area of the blast.
The body of Shatah was retrieved from the scene and transferred to AUBMC.
The blast that hit Starco area in downtown Beirut near Bank Audi-SAL killed six people and at least 50 others were wounded.
Around 400 meters of the area was damaged.
Caretaker PM Najib Miqati swiftly called for an emergency meeting for the Higher Council for Disasters.
“Hizbullah is pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security and foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 years,” Shatah wrote in a tweet a few hours before his assassination.
Shatah had served as adviser to former PM Fouad Saniora and his successor and Saad Hariri, whose own father was assassinated in a huge Beirut seafront car bomb in February 2005 blamed on Syria.
A meeting for the March 14 alliance was scheduled to be held at the Center House in downtown.
State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr arrived at the scene to inspect the site of explosion.
Saqr said that the explosion weighed between 50 and 60 kilos.
Higher Defense Council chief General Mohammed Kheir also inspected the area at the head of a delegation to determine the needs of the victims and take the necessary measures to aid them.
Early estimates said around 30 kilograms of highly combustible elements were used in the explosives.
Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh told LBCI that “there are more than 15 casualties.”
Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil later ordered all hospitals in Beirut to receive those who were wounded in the explosion.
Television channels showed pictures of thick smoke near the Serail, where Lebanon's prime minister has his offices, and a major commercial district home to shops, banks, restaurants.
People were seen running to rescue the injured as a helicopter was seen hovering over the area of the blast.
Footage broadcast by Future TV showed people on fire, others lying on the ground, some bloodied, as well as fires blazing at several other points while ambulances rushed to the stricken area.
Civil defense teams battled fire that erupted in the area of the explosion.
The blast, according to media reports, was caused by a booby-trapped car.
According to MTV the suicide attacker's name was identified by Ahmed.
Security forces were seen opening fire in the air to disperse people gathered near the blast and began checking the identification papers of passers-by in the area.
The blast caused a major dysfunction in mobile phone communications.
Beirut has been hit by several deadly attacks over the past months, including twin suicide bombings in November that targeted the Iranian embassy and bombings in the bastion of Hizbullah in the south of the capital over the summer.
The 33-month war in Syria has deeply divided the Lebanese and triggered political tensions and sectarian clashes in the country.
27 December 2013, 09:57
1517
Is this how it begins? Car bombs in all areas ... followed by the pull back of the LAF and the emergence of a civil war? Happy New Year ... NOT!
27 December 2013, 11:02
1614
i guess that's what those who did it are wishing for, another attempt at triggering a war. the question is wether we will we let them play us and fall for it
27 December 2013, 11:08
1517
Absolutely.... Israel trying to cause strife and fitnah. This is why they kill only M14 or Mustaqbal politicians. Not one single M8 politician has been assassinated...Strange! Israel is sending a message to Harriri by assassinating his political advisor to pressure him to accept a cabinet 9-9-6 that includes HA. Paid mouthpieces like you will do anything to justify your terrorist party's actions.
27 December 2013, 11:14
1711
@Popeye what are you talking about? Hassan Al Laqis r.i.p got assassinated by Israel not so long ago!
27 December 2013, 11:22
1317
killing the moderate sunnis in Lebanon is only increasing extremist sunnis.
hizbushaitan will pay an extremely high price for this bombing.
they have pushed moderate sunnis towards extremism, and it is now going to backfire on the whole shia community unfortunately.
27 December 2013, 12:18
1316
With "friends" like Mowaten, FT or other Hizb operatives in Lebanon, we don't need any enemy. The biggest enemy and threat is among us. CIA and Mossad are pussies compared to what HizbushayTan does to Lebanon.
27 December 2013, 16:42
137
Flamethrower....! Shame on you for using this filthy language...!!!!
27 December 2013, 17:16
611
lol ice-man just proved to us he doesnt understand arabic. samy used filthy language, not FT, but hebrew speeking paid troll wouldnt know.
27 December 2013, 10:00
510
Inna lillah wa inna lillahi wa raj3oon.
Our prayers for the victims.
27 December 2013, 10:20
1519
hizbushaitan made their most major error today by bombing Shatah.
the message is received, and hizbushaitan will pay a dear price for that.
27 December 2013, 10:32
2114
some people want to know the truth, others just want to seize the opportunity to lay blame. stop salivating geha, it's indecent.
27 December 2013, 10:37
1321
Mowaten: It is better for people of your kind to keep quiet right now. You want to know the truth?.... Please!
27 December 2013, 10:40
1421
what is indecent is you and your murdering group.
what is indecent are your Iranian terrorists who are killing m14 responsibles.
what is indecent is you and the likes of you trying to impose their will on us Lebanese.
27 December 2013, 10:43
2212
what is indecent is you bunch of drones accusing out of fantasy and taking any occasion to promote hatred.
no matter how much you've "decided" of who the guilty is, it's only your opinion and your opinion is worth zilch.
27 December 2013, 10:47
1518
mowaten of iran:
stf up and return to iran, you filthy Iranian terrorist .
who are you to even speak in our country?
you are close to nothing , you Iranian terrorist.
this time round, you will see what a major mistake your terrorist party made.
this time you will pay the price ten fold.
27 December 2013, 10:52
1812
This is 100% an act by Israel to create fitnah/strife, just like the hariri killing.
27 December 2013, 10:58
1811
well i see you cracked the case just by sitting on your behind and throwing insults. who needs investigations when you got automatic answers from geha?
the sad thing is that you're being played like the tool you are, reacting just like those who did this wanted you to. with dumb people like you lebanon is not going to get anywhere anytime soon.
27 December 2013, 11:50
1511
PS: when you were talking of "threatening m14", did you mean that?
“We do not want to wage a war with the March 14 camp. We have no time for them as our battle lies with Israel.”
27 December 2013, 10:17
124
hezzbians tryi2485346ng to ruin lebanon for the sake of iran and bashar
27 December 2013, 10:19
16
When are we Lebanese decide to live in Peace and not to drawn into the vicious circle that we all experienced many times over in the near past?
27 December 2013, 10:21
118
Reports so far indicate it is Mohammad Shataah..... Harriri's advisor...!
27 December 2013, 10:26
17
People going to work and this is what happens to them just because some evil suits want to harm someone they hate? I don't know what to say. How low!!! Poor victims, they are in our thoughts and prayers.
27 December 2013, 10:27
1418
Another free mind is assassinated by the forces of evil. Now, tell me it is Israel..... This is why they want Harriri to return to Beirut. I accuse HA of this crime. Lets see how quickly Army Intelligence will find the criminals and how fast the telecom data will be given.
27 December 2013, 10:33
158
casper casper.. get it right... m8 people are killed by israel... m14 people are killed by m14... the logic?!?!?!
27 December 2013, 10:40
2014
no arzak, in my opinion both are killed by israel, to cause hatred and strife. the age old golden rule, divide and...
27 December 2013, 10:47
129
mowaten.. we need to find the real issues and what is really happening in Lebanon... we cannot keep blaming Israel for EVERYTHING...
i am not jumping the gun and laying the blame on HA.. but if Israel has THAT much penetration in our country what is the point?
havent HA MPs called mustaqbal MPs as traitors and collaborators with Israel? how many of their "allies" does Israel want to take out?
27 December 2013, 10:57
116
FT, if that is the case why isnt anyone doing something about it? in any govt .. not just m14 or just m8.. but is there no higher tech encryption security we can get for our wireless?
27 December 2013, 11:06
1612
arzak: if HA wanted to wage war on m14 they'd say it loud and clear, like they always did, whether with israel or the takfiris.
this has no sense whatsoever, it's only aimed at further dividing and inciting. nobody in lebanon profits from it, so it must be someone who profits from lebanon going down.
27 December 2013, 10:40
129
Yes very true Casper ...I'm very interested to follow the news with regards to release of telecom data and army intel work...
27 December 2013, 10:35
1415
Criminals.... that's the only way they know. HA just inducted new saints into their long list of saints.
27 December 2013, 10:44
1317
Shatah's last tweet one hour before he was assassinated: "HA is intimidating us to reach what the Syrian regime did for 20 years and that is to surrender the state authority to its illegal existence"
27 December 2013, 10:36
145
is there any difference between this and suicide bombing? i have seen at least 10 innocent people bloodied if not dead...
and they just point out the suicide bombers???
27 December 2013, 10:36
1311
Hezbollah terror again, and again, and again... and for those who will say that we accuse without proof... go to hell!
27 December 2013, 10:51
1214
hizballa did it meters away from where former prime minister hariri got killed. they are giving everyone the finger.
30 December 2013, 11:17
03
yeah and we are giving them more power in the cabinet.... soon they may claim the central house of Saad because that no balls boy runs like hell....
27 December 2013, 10:59
105
FT i have asked many a people many a times.. with no reply... forget the STL.. ill go with you and say it is a big zionist play etc...etc...
what about the HA member wanted for the attempted assassination of Hard? by the LEBANESE judiciary? is the Lebanese legal system now a zionist ploy as well?
27 December 2013, 11:02
126
Far from it you are not a blind moron, if God came from the sky and said that it was Hizbullah that did this and killed all March14 political leaders, you are probably paid to deny him.
Right the UN is a bunch of monkeys and no one that will ever get into investigating this regardless of who they are is a impartial monkey that has it for Hizbullah and is a Israeli agent.
Please take your propaganda message elsewhere.
27 December 2013, 11:08
126
FT, he is a proven member of HA... and that is your answer? pictures in supermarkets?
30 December 2013, 11:15
11
M14 moaning again and again you don't need proof... because for HA it is a mere calculation... for them killing is negotiating.... the M14 version of negotiation for HA is a waste of time....Beating the hell of their Asses is something they can understand.... but that needs balls and i don't think the stripping Saad has some..... as for all of you HA people.... do whatever... don't care bomb bridges.... politicians... presidents.... nevermind.... i respect that.... but please don't be cowards and deny it.... nothing is worse than a coward hypocrite... i used to like you more when you used to claim responsibility for bombings..... and by the way leave Syyida Zeinab out of this because the only thing you will do is attracting the rage of the holly prophet Mohamed. And Spare Sayyida Aaisha... she has nothing to do with your hunger for power.... Jesus Christ too.... and King david they all strived for peace.....ASLEM TASLAM...!!!
27 December 2013, 11:01
1410
ft
no one has time for you terrorist Iranian thug.
go play in your Iranian corner.
27 December 2013, 12:36
1211
geha, leave lebanon you saudi slave. it's not your country here. (yea, i too can do that if you can)
27 December 2013, 10:52
112
Thats right you little puppets...continue to embrace your little political groups, your sects, your little tribal allgiances, all those petty, archaic things that make you so unique and better than those 'others' instead of embracing the very plain and simple fact that you are all Lebanese. At this rate you will never advance and the puppet masters got exactly what they wanted. A group of easily led violent sheep. Bravo posters! Happy Bloody New Year
27 December 2013, 10:53
75
blame will fall where they usually do.. each side has its usual suspects.. but at this time, let us extend our condolences to the Shatah family, and to all the innocent people who were doomed by being born in such a banana republic time in this once great country...
the wrong place at the wrong time can happen time can happen to any of in this country... my, and your, prayers should be with them especially.
27 December 2013, 11:00
104
the wrong place at the wrong time can happen to any of us in....****
27 December 2013, 11:09
1112
stupid sectarian ft:
it has nothing to do with shia and sunnis.
this has to do with who has been threatening m14 the last few weeks many times daily.
so stop your sectarian talks.
27 December 2013, 11:10
1212
Absolutely.... Israel trying to cause strife and fitnah. This is why they kill only M14 or Mustaqbal politicians. Not one single M8 politician has been assassinated...Strange! Israel is sending a message to Harriri by assassinating his political advisor to pressure him to accept a cabinet 9-9-6 that includes HA. Paid mouthpieces like you will do anything to justify your terrorist party's actions.
27 December 2013, 11:25
129
Ahia are not blamed, patriotic shia are being executed in front of ambassies while doing pecefull protests taken on pictures and the assassins protected by hezbollah... Patriotic shia are still screaming their rejectionof hezbollah outload like sayed el amine... We or I blame any agent of the syrian regime let him be suni, shia, druze, christian..or even secular...
RIP mohamad chateh i only hope that ur death as the death of hariri, kassir, hawi will not go in vain and maybe will help in the rising of beirut/damas spring, and maybe someday we will be able to live in peace....
27 December 2013, 11:09
73
May their souls rest in peace. Its a shame that such a beautiful country is subjected to these atrocities!
Guys I'm asking a serious question... I am meant to be flying to Lebanon tomorrow evening with my wife and young children. My father has pleaded with me to stay home and cancel my trip. Is it safe to bring my family over in the current climate?
27 December 2013, 11:16
138
my advice is NO.
since hizbushaitan has decided to go from threats to actual murders and bombings, this will have repercussions beyond what hizbushaitan expected.
so it is not safe to bring your family here now.
27 December 2013, 13:25
73
I don't think I have the option anymore popeye. My father has basically said you are not to go! Funny how a 30 year old man with a wife and kids has to listen to his father as if he were 5. I think I will sleep on it.
27 December 2013, 13:22
81
I understand what you are saying bigjohn. The only problem that I see is that we were planning on staying at downtown during NYE and most of the time we will be staying in antelias. I'm just afraid of exposing my children to such things and most of all I'm worried about their safety. Thank you everyone for the advice.
27 December 2013, 16:26
01
lebanon4ever, no one whom you ask if it is safe will tell you that it is. But the violence in Beirut is faction-targeted, and downtown has 2-3 policemen or soldiers literally at every street corner. If you don't go wander around in the wrong neighbourhood there is no reason anything should happen to you or your family. Expats are not targeted, but don't stand in the middle.
27 December 2013, 11:18
1311
I received death threats for denouncing here on naharnet one who once i considered a friend General Michel Aoun getting instructions from Syrian President al Assad by phone as I was with him in restaurant. The people who killed rafic al hariri are the same who keep threatening lebanon in the media. something must be done to take them down and we cannot rely on some of our christian coreligionnaire who sold their souls to the devil. May Gold help us all.
27 December 2013, 11:19
813
This was a moderate, internationally respected diplomat with a great intellect. He is the latest M14 politician to be assassinated. I have no proof of who done it, but a couple of questions beg to be answered:
1. Why is it that only M14 Politicians keep getting assassinated?
2. Please remind, how many M8 politicians have been assassinated since 2005?
The pro-HA crowd will say Israel did it. I understand: they are conditioned to assign all blame to Israel and I am sure that they believe what they say. I don't agree with them. My usual suspects are the Bashar/HA alliance.
There is a whole body of impartial international jurists who are accusing HA of similar crimes and so far HA's only defence is to hide the suspects and accuse the tribunal as "Israeli/American". That's not how you defend yourself in court. You show up and defend your case. Hiding will make you nothing more than a criminal fugitive.
27 December 2013, 11:30
1611
Imad Mugniyeh, Hassan Al Laqis, Dahiyeh bombing, Iranian embassy bombing, we can keep on forever. This is an act by Israel, and they embrace your guys accusations.
27 December 2013, 11:36
96
The people who you are mentioning were not politicians! Mugniyeh and Al Laqis were HA gunmen. The Dahieh bombing was a terrorist act targeting innocent civilians. The Iranian embassy bombing was a terrorist act targeting foreign entities (Iran).
Mystic, I restate my question: How may M8 Lebanese politicians were assassinated since 2005?
27 December 2013, 11:39
1510
Not politicians, but still part of Hezbollah and there for part of the M8, It doesn't matter whether you are politician or not, Israel knows this is the best way to create strife.
27 December 2013, 12:28
105
Mystic! Blaming a friend of yours again! Israel and Hizbshitan are under the table friends, discusting friends!!!
You really think Hassan nASSri is an enemy of Israel ??? Wake up my Shia friend and join us moderates and free thinkers!
27 December 2013, 12:58
911
lebcan: you're just plain silly. the one and only real enemy israel has is hezbollah. saying otherwise is stupid propaganda only retards will buy.
27 December 2013, 18:03
112
To the idiots above who blame Israel : If you claim M14 are their partners, why the hell would they eliminate and weaken them only to strenghten Hezbollah ?
You guys are what makes this country miserable ! You're the scum of Lebanon !
27 December 2013, 18:30
310
for the same reason they spared the men of the south lebanon army after israel left them behind: to preserve civil peace in lebanon. the purpose of HA is to defeat israel and make lebanon prevail. plunging lebanon into civil war would strip any victory against israel of its meaning.
27 December 2013, 11:52
410
bigjohn... The truth is that we just don't know who did it. We have our suspicions based on our perception of the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and on our political convictions. You say that those assassinations benefit Israel, because I think that you blame most the ills of Lebanon on Israel. I don't see it this way. Of course, Israel dumped the Palestinans on us, and is certainly responsible for many of the problems that we have. But there is another agenda here: HA, Syria and Iran want to see Lebanon solidly in their camp. The roadblock to this agenda is M14. M14 leaders keep getting liquidated and M14's intellectual pool keeps getting thinned. Thus my suspicions against the HA/Syrians alliance.
27 December 2013, 12:07
46
Well if HA doesn't believe in the tribunals impartiality, then the proper way to handle it is to argue its case in court with the help of skillful lawyers. Hiding the suspects only exacerbates the case against HA. It tells public opinion that HA has something to hide, doesn't it? I certainly got this impression!
27 December 2013, 11:20
123
@leb4ever
Nothing is predictable... despite what happened today, it still feels safe here, but tomorrow... who knows...
27 December 2013, 11:44
03
I do not consider the situation safe at all.I always pray for Lebanon but from what I read on this forum it looks like only devine intervention will bring back harmony between the Lebanese people.RIP to all the victims of todays car bomb.
27 December 2013, 11:26
311
Thank God we have the STL as a deterrent! Otherwise, the explosion would have been... well... umm... duh... twice as big? The STL farce remains just that: a farce for the pleasure of the dumb.
27 December 2013, 11:31
131
Lebanese:Join the Syrian people , u are not allowed to speak, however polite you can be.
27 December 2013, 11:32
01
stop trying to make the world again in those 2 or 3 lines. Nothing is in Your hands else than YOUR acts and future. Coexistence is the master piece of our identity. "The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon. As a result of long exploitation, few old trees remain in Lebanon, but there is now an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests"....
27 December 2013, 11:45
125
"what is indecent is you bunch of drones accusing out of fantasy and taking any occasion to promote hatred."
"some people want to know the truth, others just want to seize the opportunity to lay blame." said moowaten...
then he accuses israel...
"do as i say but not as i do"... typical hezbi thinking! LOL
27 December 2013, 11:57
125
some say it is israel (as usuaul) which did it to create strife... but lebanon does not need israel to create strife as lebanese do it perfectly well on their own!
so it leaves syria and its partners in lebanon (which given the target is possible) or the other side (alqaeda or other same groups) to create more strife...
but it does not seem like israel did it as hezbi always jump to say each time a bombing is made! (but it is in their pavlovian nature, it s a reflex!)
27 December 2013, 12:30
124
The last tweet Dr. Chatah had:
Mohamad B Chatah @mohamad_chatah 3h
#Hezbollah is pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security & foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 yrs.
27 December 2013, 12:34
82
And here is he tweet in Arabic 4 hours ago:
حزب الله يهول ويضغط ليصل الى ما كان النظام السوري قد فرضه لمدة ١٥ عام: تخلي الدولة له عن دورها وقرارها السيادي في الأمن والسياسة الخارجية
27 December 2013, 12:36
115
That's probably why Israel assassinated him they don't like it when he criticizes Hizbullah.
27 December 2013, 13:08
125
FlameThrower, unlike you as a media correspondent for whomever is paying you, he didn't have security entourage, he didn't have people handling his "twitter" account. He wasn't one of the big political overlords you are accustomed to.
27 December 2013, 13:46
112
situation must change we had enough of killings every few month and its been like this since the murder of hobeika and avorted hamadeh and mr harriri,... the country is paralysed and going to the abyss
solution is an all out war between the 2 factions in Lebanon and let the strongest win
ou khalssouna ba2a
27 December 2013, 13:47
44
Now is the time to form a national unity government stop all accusations we are one nation let's kick out all other countries and their representatives we are Lebanon and lebanese not Iranian, Saudi. Qatari or Syrian we are not shite, Sunni,Christian , Druze we are the brotherhood of Lebanon let's not let our dear sons die in vain
27 December 2013, 13:51
124
big jo, u're another pro-iranian retard, I understand more and more christians that want partition.
27 December 2013, 14:15
122
LOL and M8ers who seem to have great pleasure in his death... poor people...
27 December 2013, 15:11
114
misstik, traitors like u are the reason why christians want partition.
I cant blame them, who wants to live with terrorists like u...
27 December 2013, 15:36
69
Lol Mr. Genius are you supposed to talk to me about what Christians want? You who embraced Ibn Taymiyah & Ottoman Empire in other post? The worst genocidal maniacs.
27 December 2013, 16:04
54
On Wednesday, President Sulieman said that he could accept a fait accompli neutral cabinet, that is, one in which neither Hezbollah nor any other political party could hold a veto. Yesterday, Naim Kassem, in response to the President's suggestion voiced strong opposition and said "Anything could happen".
Last night Safadi is assassinated by car bomb. Message delivered by Hezbollah -- don't think about doing anything independently with the Lebanese government because we know where you all live, how you go to work and we can kill any of you Lebanese, anytime, anywhere.
And then they want dialogue!
27 December 2013, 16:51
133
keep supporting Syria you bunch of sellouts! I hope for every idiot that points the finger at Israel instead of the true perpetrators of this act is one day "collateral damage" to the cowards they call bosses. TFEH
27 December 2013, 17:51
511
False flag indeed. I don't think Hizbollah is stupid enough to give itself more unpopularity than it already has among most Lebanese.
The only government that benefits from a Lebanese civil war is the Zionist Israeli one.
I'm no fan of Hizbollah or any side in Lebanon to be honest cause they all are absolute shite but this was not their doing.
27 December 2013, 18:25
112
Israel is behind all anti syrian regim assassination since 2005 to spread chaos.. So by ur logic surian gov (and hezbollah) are israely allies or israel decided to kill all anti syrian regim leadders only to spread cahos so when all appnents are dead prosyrian regime will fight between themself and that's how israel will win... What a nice logic really, here in u made me see the light
Again thank you and plus one
27 December 2013, 18:17
124
What a great deduction... U just opened my eyes now i can see.. Saoudi arabiya has been killing all anti syrian regim politicians SINCE 2005 to avoid being hit by arab spring....
Really???? U really think that??? Hariri, assir, hawi....now chateh... Great reasoning from a great patriot
Plus one for u also
27 December 2013, 18:20
121
Laquis was a soldier again a soldier in a party that is on the ground fighting in syria (for a valid or non valid reason that is not the point)... Chateh is a politician stop mixing things...
27 December 2013, 20:38
103
Sounds to me like you've experienced their Arabian night parties in the desert.
27 December 2013, 20:44
510
No it is not going to be like 2008 texas i agree, it is going to be much worse for you and the takfiris this time, after what you have started in Syria, we will not have mercy this time.
27 December 2013, 21:52
94
Chatah's last tweet, posted about an hour before his death.
"#Hezbollah is pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security & foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 yrs,"
28 December 2013, 00:44
16
M14, M8, and whatever M there is. NOBODY CARES. Lebanese needs MPeace.
28 December 2013, 05:06
83
Is Hezbollah involved? Two theories:
1. The most generous: They had nothing to do with it, but knew about it, did nothing to stop it, and let it happen. If they didn't know about an attack that takes this level of intelligence gathering, preparation, telecom coordination, not to mention money to put together, I would be very disappointed.
2. The least generous: They did it to send a message to whomever is thinking about collaborating with the STL. The message: This is dangerous territory, and we are serious, do not go there.
Either way, unfortunately (for them) it will backfire, because you can't take something away from someone who has nothing left to lose.
Like their involvement in Syria, this is another turning point in a series of miscalculations that started with the assassination of Hariri.
This has now become the law of diminishing returns.
