In an statement issued by the Syrian Information Ministry, Damascus called for investigating the elements behind the explosions which left at least 27 dead and more than 350 injured.

“The vicious hands that committed the heinous crime in Tripoli are the same ones behind the criminal blast that rocked Beirut's southern suburb,” the statement read, indicating that these crimes are aimed at sowings sedition and damaging peace in Lebanon and dragging it into a state of chaos and destruction.

On Friday afternoon, Lebanon’s Tripoli was rocked by double explosions just one week after a strong blast occurred in southern Beirut.

The first blast occurred near the Taqwa Mosque at 1.30 p.m. where Salafist Sheikh Salem al-Rafei was delivering a sermon.Rafei, according to Sheikh Nabil Raheem, was unharmed.

Minutes later a second blast rocked Maarad Street, near the Salam Mosque. The sermon delivered at that mosque was Salafist preacher Bilal Baroudi.

MRKD/SHI