Beirut blast: Twin suicide attacks kill scores in Hezbollah stronghold Shia suburb
Twin suicide attacks have rocked a Beirut suburb that is a stronghold of the Hezbollah Shia militant group, according to reports.
Initial claims said at least four people have died with 40 wounded after the double explosions in the suburb of Borj al-Barajneh.
Sources told the BBC Arabic that at least 17 people were killed in the blast. The Red Cross put the death toll at 23 and 105 wounded.
The explosions, on a seven-minute delay, took place not far from Rasoul Hatham hospital. Unconfirmed reports said a third suicide bomber was killed by the explosion of the other attackers and did not manage to detonate his explosives belt.
Security forces have fired into the air to prevent crowds from assembling at the site of the explosions. Lebanese activists called for urgent blood donations at the local hospital.
Ambulances from the Lebanese Red Cross were dispatched to the scene:
Borj al-Barajneh is a working class, predominantly Shia neighbourhood that also houses a Palestinian refugee camp.
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