Blast hits Lebanese city of Tripoli

29/09/2008| IslamWeb

At least six people have been killed and 12 injured after a car bomb exploded in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.

 

The blast on Monday targeted a bus carrying troops in northern Lebanon, the Associated Press quoted Lebanese security officials as saying.

 

"We have at least six people killed, three of them soldiers," an official said. "We have about 12 other people injured."

 

He said the bomb went off in the Bahsas region as the mini-bus heading towards the capital Beirut drove past.

 

Officials said the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped parked car which was detonated by remote control as the military bus drove past.

 

Troops targeted

 

The explosion occurred during the morning rush hour with people heading to work, the officials said.

 

Police and the army immediately cordoned off the area as forensic experts began gathering evidence, while residents of the area rushed to the scene to look for loved ones.

 

Local television showed soldiers sealing off the area and preventing people from approaching the blast scene.

 

The blast shattered windows of several cars parked in the area.

 

The attack is the second bombing to target Lebanese troops in less than two months.

 

Nayala Khoury, an Al Jazeera producer in Lebanon, said: "There is always tension between various extremists and the army, but no one is taking responsibility for this just yet."

 

PHOTO CAPTION

 

Lebanese soldiers and policemen inspect a bus (L) after an explosion on the main road in Tripoli, northern Lebanon September 29, 2008.

 

Al-Jazeera