Violence strikes Tripoli after citizen's killing

Armed violence broke out in northern city Tripoli on Thursday after an unidentified gunman shot and killed father of a detained suspect in explosions that targeted two mosques packed with worshippers last August. The assailant who was riding a motorcycle had shot to death Abdulrahman Diab earlier today, according to Lebanese National News Agency (NNA). Voice of Lebanon radio had noted that the incident sparked armed violence between Tebaneh and Jabal Mohsen districts in the port city, located some 80 km north of Beirut. Security reports said Lebanese Army troops had cut off the Tripoli-Akkar Highway, a main road snaking across the embatteled regions, adding that four citizens were injured with sniper fire in Tebaneh. Explosions had struck Al-Taqwa and Al-Salam mosques on August 23 last year killing 45 and injuring hundreds. Judiciary had accused three men in mid-October of forming an armed group aiming to execute terrorist attacks, also accusing them of the mosques' explosion. Tripoli had seen violence last January which killed more than seven and injured dozens, while causing massive damage to citizens' properties.