Death toll from Beirut car bombing climbs to 27
The death toll from a car bombing that ripped through a Beirut stronghold of the Lebanese Hezbollah has risen to at least 27, the health ministry said on Saturday. The toll is the highest in Lebanon since a massive car bomb attack on the Beirut seafront killed then prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others in February 2005.
At least 27 people died and 336 others were wounded in the car bomb attack that targeted the Rweiss neighbourhood on Thursday, the office of Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said.
An earlier toll on Friday said at least 22 people had been killed when a car packed with explosives blew up in the densely populated district in Beiruts southern suburbs. But Khalils office said three people died of their injuries overnight Friday while two more bodies were found, raising the death toll.
A previously unknown group, the Battalion of Aisha, said it carried out the attack because of Hezbollahs involvement in the Syria war.
You, the pig Hassan Nasrallah, we send you our second powerful message because you havent understood yet, a member of the group said referring to the head of Hezbollah.
I wouldn't mind if they just killed Nasty and his henchmen, and left the innocents alone... | A defiant Nasrallah said on Friday he himself was ready to go and fight in Syria, and accused radical Sunni takfiri Muslims of being responsible for the car bombing.
Sure you will. More likely you'll eat a goat in their honor... |
Posted by: Steve White 2013-08-18 |