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| Lebanon blast: Car bombing in Beirut kills eight | Lebanon blast: Car bombing in Beirut kills eight |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A huge car bomb has killed at least eight people and injured 78 in central Beirut, Lebanese officials say. | A huge car bomb has killed at least eight people and injured 78 in central Beirut, Lebanese officials say. |
| The explosion occurred in a busy street in the predominantly Christian district of Ashrafiya. | The explosion occurred in a busy street in the predominantly Christian district of Ashrafiya. |
| The intended target may have been top intelligence official Wissam al-Hassan, officials say. Some reports say he was killed. | The intended target may have been top intelligence official Wissam al-Hassan, officials say. Some reports say he was killed. |
| No group has said it carried out the bombing. Tensions in Lebanon have been rising over the conflict in Syria. | No group has said it carried out the bombing. Tensions in Lebanon have been rising over the conflict in Syria. |
| Mr Hassan was involved in the uncovering of a recent bomb plot that led to the arrest of a pro-Syrian Lebanese politician. | Mr Hassan was involved in the uncovering of a recent bomb plot that led to the arrest of a pro-Syrian Lebanese politician. |
| 'Cowardly act' | 'Cowardly act' |
| Friday's attack was the deadliest in Beirut since 2008. It took place near Sassine Square, at a time when many parents were picking up children from school. | Friday's attack was the deadliest in Beirut since 2008. It took place near Sassine Square, at a time when many parents were picking up children from school. |
| There were chaotic scenes as emergency vehicles rushed to Ashrafiya just as the weekend was about to begin. | There were chaotic scenes as emergency vehicles rushed to Ashrafiya just as the weekend was about to begin. |
| After a long period of relative calm this is the first big bomb attack in the Lebanese capital in four years. But many here had feared something like this would happen sooner or later and that Lebanon would be inevitably dragged into the conflict in neighbouring Syria. | After a long period of relative calm this is the first big bomb attack in the Lebanese capital in four years. But many here had feared something like this would happen sooner or later and that Lebanon would be inevitably dragged into the conflict in neighbouring Syria. |
| Some Lebanese political leaders have already accused the Assad regime in Syria of being behind the attack, even though it is still too early to say who is responsible. | Some Lebanese political leaders have already accused the Assad regime in Syria of being behind the attack, even though it is still too early to say who is responsible. |
| The danger now is not only that there may be further such attacks but also that tensions will grow between Lebanon's numerous armed and political factions - many of whom are defined by their positions on the Syrian conflict. | The danger now is not only that there may be further such attacks but also that tensions will grow between Lebanon's numerous armed and political factions - many of whom are defined by their positions on the Syrian conflict. |
| Hospitals across the city have reported large numbers of wounded, and called for people to donate blood. | Hospitals across the city have reported large numbers of wounded, and called for people to donate blood. |
| The blast caused considerable damage, setting cars ablaze and destroying the facades of nearby buildings. | The blast caused considerable damage, setting cars ablaze and destroying the facades of nearby buildings. |
| Ronnie Chatah, who lives 500m from the site of the blast, told the BBC: "The building shook and it echoed throughout the neighbourhood." | Ronnie Chatah, who lives 500m from the site of the blast, told the BBC: "The building shook and it echoed throughout the neighbourhood." |
| Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the government was trying to identify the perpetrators and said they would be punished. | Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the government was trying to identify the perpetrators and said they would be punished. |
| The attack occurred close to the headquarters of the Kataeb, better known as the Phalange, a Maronite Christian group. | The attack occurred close to the headquarters of the Kataeb, better known as the Phalange, a Maronite Christian group. |
| The general secretariat of the Western-backed 14 March coalition of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is also based in the area. | The general secretariat of the Western-backed 14 March coalition of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is also based in the area. |
| An MP from the alliance, Michel Pharaon, told al-Jazeera TV: "I think Ashrafiya is a target, and 14 March is a target. This region is symbolic because it is in the heart of the capital and it is a Christian neighbourhood." | An MP from the alliance, Michel Pharaon, told al-Jazeera TV: "I think Ashrafiya is a target, and 14 March is a target. This region is symbolic because it is in the heart of the capital and it is a Christian neighbourhood." |
| Some 14 March politicians have specifically accused the Syrian government of being behind the bombing. | Some 14 March politicians have specifically accused the Syrian government of being behind the bombing. |
| However Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi called it a "cowardly terrorist act". | However Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi called it a "cowardly terrorist act". |