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Leila Kesserwani

Live Blog: Bomb Goes Off in Dahiyeh Less Than Week After Chatah Assassination

An explosion was heard at around 4:15 p.m. on Thursday in the Bir el-Abed neighborhood of Dahiyeh in southern Beirut. Large plumes of black smoke and flames were seen coming from the area. Initial reports say it happened near the political offices of Hezbollah.

This comes less than a week after a bomb went off in downtown Beirut, killing former Lebanese Ambassador to the US Mohammad Chatah and seven other people.

Our live blog has wrapped up for the day.

5:57 p.m.
The sun has set and throngs of people still crowding around blast site in Dahiyeh.




5:30 p.m.
Another dramatic image has emerged, this one showing a woman being rescued from the rubble following the explosion.




5:26 p.m.
Reports of fighting between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhoods after word of Dahiyeh bombing reaches Tripoli.




5:21 p.m.
Huge crowd of people still surrounding blast site.




5:19 p.m.
Firefighters have brought flames under control.




5:15 p.m.
Video footage from Al-Manar shows charred vehicles and extensive damage to building just behind cars. (Jump to 1:15 to see full extent of damage.)



5:06 p.m.
Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil tells AFP that five people are dead and at least 20 injured.

5:04 p.m.
Al-Manar is reporting many people are injured. Says at least 30 injured victims were taken to Bahman Hospital.

5:00 p.m.
The army suspects another vehicle in the area may be rigged with explosives and is calling on the public to go inside and move away from the blast site.




4:58 p.m.
A huge crowd of people is swarmed around the blast site. One vehicle visibly charred to the ground.




4:51 p.m.
Caretaker health minister Ali Hassan Khalil is calling for blood donations.




4:51 p.m.
There are conflicting reports at this time about the number of deaths. Reuters is reporting that at least two people have died in the explosion. Al-Manar reports that three people are dead. El-Nashra news is now putting the death toll at seven people.




4:48 p.m.

Al-Jadeed TV says a four-wheel drive vehicle was rigged with explosives.





4:47 p.m.
A bird’s-eye-view photo of the scene shows a fiery inferno below.




4:47 p.m.
The Red Cross has begun evacuating victims from the scene.








4:20 p.m.
According to LBC news, the explosion is located near Al Jawad Restaurant between Haret Hreik and Bir El Abed.




Al Manar says the explosion is on Al Arid street.




4:15 p.m.
Explosion heard in the Bir Abed neighborhood of Dahiyeh