国际英语新闻:29 killed, over 500 injured in blasts in Lebanon's Tripoli: Red Cross

BEIRUT, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 29 people were killed and more than 500 others injured on Friday when two powerful explosions rocked Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli, according to Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) and security sources.

A booby-trapped car filled with 100 kg of high explosive exploded outside al-Salam mosque, which is located adjacent to the house of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, a security source told Xinhua.

But the prime minister's office said later that Miqati is not in the city at the moment.

"Another car went off next to al-Taqwa mosque, a few minutes after the first explosion," added the source.

Black clouds shrouded the Lebanese northern city as heavy gunfire is being heard, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

"The hospitals in Tripoli have launched a call for blood donation following the blasts due to the large number of the injured, namely over 500 till the moment, who were sent by the LRC ambulances," said Geroges Kettaneh, director of Operation Department at the LRC in a statement.

The blasts occurred after Muslim's Friday prayers, as a result, the twin attacks caused heavy casualties.

The rise of violence in Lebanon has put people on pins and needles, especially after a car bombing last week killed at least 25 people and injured 248 others in capital Beirut's southern suburb.