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Twin blasts hit Tripoli

August 23, 2013

Two explosions have occurred in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli. Dozens of people were killed in the blasts, and hundreds more were injured.

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Smoke is seen above people gathering outside a mosque on the site of a powerful explosion in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on August 23, 2013. Two powerful explosions killed several people: one rocked the city centre near the home of outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the second one struck near the port of the restive city with a Sunni Muslim majority. The explosions come a week after a suicide car bombing killed 27 people in a Beirut stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside Assad's forces. AFP PHOTO IBRAHIM CHALHOUB (Photo credit should read IBRAHIM CHALHOUB/AFP/Getty Images)
Image: Ibrahim Chalhoub/AFP/Getty Images

Explosions hit two mosques in Tripoli Friday. Security sources said that least 42 people were killed in the attacks. Earlier George Kettaneh, director of the Lebanese Red Cross, said more than 500 people had been injured. He added that many of the wounded "are in serious condition with burns and head wounds.

Both explosions happened as worshippers were leaving weekly Muslim prayers. Television footage showed people fleeing from the scene as thick black smoke billowed out of one of the mosques.

Burying the dead in Lebanon

The first blast struck in the center of the predominantly Sunni Muslim city, while the second hit near the city's port. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The blasts came roughly a week after a car bomb in southern Beirut claimed the lives of at least 24 people and injured more than 200.

Sectarian violence has worsened in Lebanon in recent months as Sunni and Shiite groups have become more vocal in their support of the opposition and the Assad regime in neighboring Syria, respectively.

The Shiite-militant group, Hezbollah, in particular, has drawn both regional and international criticism for its involvement in combat alongside the Syrian military across the border.

kms,dr/mkg (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)