Lebanon: Mourning day after deadly blast as investigations continue
Lebanon's Higher Defense Council is to meet later Thursday to take actions against terrorist attacks as the nation observes a day of mourning after a massive bombing in the northern city of Tripoli killed 14 people. According to Naharnet, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Saniora has declared Thursday a day of mourning across the country in honor of those killed in the Tripoli blast which also wounded at least 40 others.
The daily An Nahar said President Michel Suleiman will preside over the Higher Defense Council meeting upon arrival from Damascus later Thursday, ending a two-day official visit.
According to information obtained by An Nahar, the Higher Defense Council is "bent on undertaking measures to confront this terrorist threat in an effort to beef up security and confront a possible scheme to shake security."
The daily Al Liwaa reported Thursday "extremist" groups are likely behind the explosion. Citing "well-informed" sources, the newspaper said three people have been arrested in this regard.
It said among the detainees allegedly involved in Wednesday's bombing was a man from a neighborhood near Bab al-Tebbaneh in Tripoli. Al Liwaa said investigators were considering several theories, including the possibility that extremist sides could have been involved in the bombing, particularly after finding out that one of MP Mustafa Alloush's attackers belonged to a fanatic group.
Alloush and his bodyguard were pelted with stones and bottles on Friday during a protest demanding the release from jail of alleged Islamists. Another option, according to the sources, is the likelihood that some political sides with links to Fatah al-Islam may have been involved in the Tripoli bomb attack.