Two Explosions in One Post
Two explosions occurred in Lebanon in the last couple of days. Well yes, everything I can write about the country is how many bombs detonated and how many people died. Let’s not exaggerate, Lebanon is still far in the standings compared to Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia or else when it comes to the ratio of bombs blowing up per day, but we’re getting there - is that supposed to make us feel safe not being in the Top 3.
On Friday the 16th of September, a car exploded in the highly inhabited region of Geitawi in Achrafieh, a neighborhood mainly inhabited by the Christian community of Beirut, the capital. Security forces determined that a suit case filled with 10 Kgs of explosive was placed under the car in question. The detonation occurred shortly before midnight near a branch of Lebanese Byblos Bank. Some people recall hearing the blast kilometers away; others, although living nearby the place didn’t hear it. The material damages were severe, a building almost collapsed and lots of glass broke. One man, the tenant of a restaurant, was killed; at least 22 others were wounded. The politicians, who are currently fighting outside the country - in New York that is, where the U.N. is holding it’s annual general assembly - condemned the event and accused “I don’t know who” of causing insecurity in the country and scaring the Lebanese people. All I can hope is for the wounded citizens to get well soon; as for the politicians I hope scientist will discover soon a cure for their disease.
A couple of days later, on Monday the 19th of September, a hand grenade exploded in the Kuwaiti Information Office in Hamra, another district of Beirut. Local newspaper quoted the Kuwaiti ambassador stating that one of the employees was playing with a hand grenade left over - I don’t buy this crap - in the office. The employee was killed, another one wounded in circumstances the ambassador qualified of “accidental”. I heard another version of the story from “unofficial” sources. The story states that the office received a booby-trapped package. When one of the employees opened it, well it exploded. This event was less covered by worldwide press although it could have turned to a diplomatic incident.