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NORTH LEBANON

Double shooting in Tripoli: one dead and one injured

Double shooting in Tripoli: one dead and one injured

Lebanese military personnel in Tripoli, January 31, 2021. (Credit: Fathi al-Masri/AFP)

BEIRUT — Two shootings took place between Monday evening and Tuesday morning in Tripoli, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the city reported.

The first incident targeted a grocery store and caused material damage. The second shooting, which had no known target, resulted in a death and an injury. Contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, a senior police source said that the two incidents might be linked.

On Monday night, a man of unknown age and nationality fired a machine-gun at a store in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood. The shooter used incendiary bullets, which caused a fire inside the store which contained gas cylinders. Firefighters were immediately called the scene to extinguish the flames and prevent the gas tanks from exploding.

Only material damage was reported. According to witnesses, the gunman fled on a motorcycle and continued to shoot in the air.

A Lebanese Army patrol officer along with Internal Security Force officers arrived to the scene and an investigation was launched.

At around 10:30 am Tuesday morning, another shooting took place in the city. An individual opened fire with an automatic weapon in the Haret al-Baraniah neighborhood.

A bystander, who was shot in the head, immediately died on the scene. Another man in his early twenties was shot in the foot and taken to hospital for treatment. The army deployed troops to the area and opened an investigation.

A senior ISF source, who requested anonymity, said the two shootings were related to personal conflicts.

When asked about the security situation in Tripoli, the official assured that security and army personnel are always present on the ground, but that the security problems in the city are due to several factors, including population density, the circulation of drugs and a high rate of poverty.

Last September, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced a "sustainable" security plan for North Lebanon, following deadly shootings in Tripoli that raised fears of increased violence. Incidents continue to occur regularly nonetheless.

BEIRUT — Two shootings took place between Monday evening and Tuesday morning in Tripoli, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the city reported. The first incident targeted a grocery store and caused material damage. The second shooting, which had no known target, resulted in a death and an injury. Contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, a senior police source said that the two incidents might be...