Several killed and wounded in Beirut car bomb blast

Black smoke was seen rising from the eastern part of the city A huge car bomb has exploded in the Beirut neighbourhood of Ashrafieh during rush hour Friday, injuring several people. At least eight people have been killed and 72 wounded in the roadside bomb attack. Several media agencies also reported an explosion in Ashrafieh in the Lebanese capital. El-nashra website said the explosion ripped through a building housing a branch of BEMO.
Witnesses said plumes of smoke could be seen in the sky above the Beirut neighbourhood. A source said the explosion took place about 200 metres from a Kataeb headquarters in the area and at least seven cars were set ablaze as a result of the blast. TV footage showed considerable damage to a number of buildings.
Ambulances were at the scene of the explosion and emergency units could be seen transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals.