The car bomb attack killed at least 21 people and injured more than 250 in the Shia neighborhood of Ruwaiss in Beirut. The area is a stronghold of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

“This is a criminal act that bears the fingerprints of terrorism and Israel, and is aimed to destabilize Lebanon and deal a blow to the resilience of the Lebanese,” Sleiman said on Thursday night.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that Friday would be a national day of mourning.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam also censured the attack and called for support for the security forces.

In addition, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned the attack, describing it a “horrific crime”.

“The blast is part of a terrorist scheme that aims to sow strife and evil across Lebanon,” Hariri said in a statement released by his media office.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Turkey, and Iran also condemned the attack. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araghchi said the Zionists and their allies are plotting to destabilize Lebanon but the Lebanese people and the Islamic resistance will neutralize the plots.

BA/BA