Casualties caused as 2 explosions rock Lebanon's Tripoli

Two explosions on Friday rocked Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli, leaving deaths and injuries, local media reported. According to the National News Agency (NNA), the first blast was near al-Taqua Mosque in the Sunni restive city of Tripoli, while the second occurred outside al-Salam Mosque near the house of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati. But his office said later that he is not in the city at the moment. Black clouds shrouded the city as heavy gunfire is being heard, the NNA reported. Al Arabiya news channel said four people were killed and 40 others wounded in the twin explosions, while local LBCI TV also reported many casualties among the prayers at the mosques. But no numbers could be verified now. The rise of violence in Lebanon has put people on pins and needles, especially after a car bombing last week killed at least 17 people and injured 212 others in Beirut's southern suburb.