A prominent Lebanese journalist was today assassinated when a bomb exploded in his car, police said. Officers said Samir Kassir was killed when a device left under the driver’s seat exploded. He was a columnist for An-Nahar, a leading newspaper frequently critical of Syria and the former Lebanese government that was allied with Damascus. The explosion, which happened in the Christian Ashrafieh neighbourhood of Beirut this morning, set the car on fire. Mr Lahoud’s spokesman, Rafik Shalala, described the murder as a “grave incident”, and said the president had ordered an investigation. “It’s better not to make accusations until the circumstances are uncovered,” he told the al-Arabiya television channel. To view pictures pls click read more.
Residents of the neighbourhood said the blast, which shattered windows in surrounding residential buildings, happened when Kassir got into the car. “I heard a loud explosion. People rushed and there was a car burning,” Manuel Izmizilian said.
NEWS IMAGES
Results 1 – 10 of about 282 for lebanese.Sort Results by: Relevance | Date
An undated file picture shows Lebanese Samir Kassir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist, who was killed in a car bomb explosion in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood east of Beirut. Politicians at the site blamed the blast, which caused little damage apart from to the car, on the pro-Syrian regime. AFP PHOTO/ANWAR AMRO(AFP/File /Anwar Amro)
AFP/File – 30 minutes ago
Lebanese firefighters extinguish the burning car of prominent anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed in a car bomb expolision in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood east of Beirut. Politicians at the site blamed the blast, which caused little damage apart from to the car, on the pro-Syrian regime.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
AFP – 30 minutes ago
This undated file photo released by Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper shows Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed in a car explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, 45, known for his anti-Syrian writings in An-Nahar daily, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/An-Nahar)
AP – 39 minutes ago
Red Cross personnel carry the corpse of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir on a strecher following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 31 minutes ago
Gibran Tueni, top right, An-Nahar newspaper’s general manager and newly elected opposition legislator, looks at the corpse of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 51 minutes ago
A colleague of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Qaseer places a flag on his chair at the An-Nahar newspaper office in Beirut June 2, 2005. Qaseer, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut. His killing four days after the start of Lebanon’s staggered parliamentary elections shocked the country that was just coming to terms with the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.REUTERS/ Wael Ladki
Reuters – 52 minutes ago
A Lebanese army officer guards the destroyed car of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 59 minutes ago
Lebanese army officers surround the destroyed car of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 58 minutes ago
Lebanese Red Cross personnel attempt to remove the body of journalist Samir Qaseer from his damaged car in Beirut June 2,2005. Qaseer, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut. His killing four days after the start of Lebanon’s staggered parliamentary elections shocked the country that was just coming to terms with the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. (Sharif Karim/Reuters)
Reuters – 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
A Lebanese policeman stands next to the damaged car of journalist Samir Qaseer in Beirut June 2, 2005. Samir, a prominent anti-Syria journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut security sources said. He died instantly in the blast outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood. A woman was wounded. (Jamal Saidi/Reuters)
NEWS IMAGES
Results 11 – 20 of about 283 for lebanese.Sort Results by: Relevance | Date
- A Lebanese policeman stands next to the damaged car of journalist Samir Qaseer in Beirut June 2, 2005. Samir, a prominent anti-Syria journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut security sources said. He died instantly in the blast outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood. A woman was wounded. (Jamal Saidi/Reuters)
Reuters – 2 hours, 24 minutes ago
The corpse of a man identified as prominent Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir is seen in his car following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil)
AP – 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
A girl cries in front of Lebanese army officials following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. A prominent Lebanese journalist known for his anti-Syrian writings was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
Lebanese police officers guard a car destroyed by an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. An explosion rocked a Beirut neighborhood Thursday, killing a prominent journalist who writes a column for Lebanon’s al-Nahar newspaper, which frequently criticizes Syria and the former Lebanese government that was allied with Damascus. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Jun 02 2:33 AM
The corpse of a man, identified as Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, is seen in his car following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. An explosion rocked a Beirut neighborhood Thursday, killing a prominent journalist who wrote a column for Lebanon’s al-Nahar newspaper. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – Jun 02 2:19 AM
ATTENTION EDITORS – VISUALS COVERAGE OF SCENES OF DEATH AND INJURY Jubran Tuweini (C), a newly elected deputy to the Lebanese parliament, inspects the damaged car of journalist Samir Qaseer in Beirut June 2,2005. Samir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut, security sources said. They said he died instantly in the blast that destroyed his white Alfa Romeo car outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood. A woman was wounded. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – Jun 02 2:18 AM
ATTENTION EDITORS – VISUALS COVERAGE OF SCENES OF DEATH AND INJURY Lebanese civil defence personnel surround the damaged car of journalist Samir Qaseer in Beirut June 2, 2005. Samir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut, security sources said. They said he died instantly in the blast that destroyed his white Alfa Romeo car outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood. A woman was wounded. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – Jun 02 2:21 AM
A Lebanese fireman extinguishes smoke from the damaged car of journalist Samir Qaseer in Beirut June 2, 2005. Samir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut, security sources said. They said he died instantly in the blast that destroyed his white Alfa Romeo car outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood. A woman was wounded. REUTERS/ Mohamed Azakir
Reuters – Jun 02 2:04 AM
A Lebanese Red Cross personnel rushes to the scene of a car bomb car in Beirut June 2, 2005. A prominent anti-Syria journalist was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut, security sources said. They said Samir Qaseer of An-Nahar newspaper died instantly in the blast outside his home in the Ashrafiyeh neighbourhood. A woman was wounded. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Reuters – Jun 02 1:53 AM
A Lebanese worker loads ballot boxes in a truck in Beirut June 1,2005. Anti-Syrian opposition groups said on June 1 they would compete against each other in a key stage of Lebanon’s general elections this month, drawing a sharp rebuttal from the influential Maronite Christian bishops. Voters go to the polls in the mainly Shi’ite Muslim south on Sunday but with a pro-Syrian ticket apparently assured of victory, focus has shifted to the central Mount Lebanon polls due on June 12 in the staggered elections. (Jamal Saidi/Reuters)
Reuters – Jun 01 1:59 PM
NEWS IMAGES
Results 1 – 10 of about 283 for lebanese.Sort Results by: Relevance | Date
- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud (C) sits with head of the press syndicate Mohamed Baalbaki (L) and head of the journalists’ syndicate Melhim Karam while paying his respects to slain journalist Samir Qaseer at the press syndicate in Beirut June 2, 2005. A booby-trapped car exploded killing Samir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist in Beirut, on Thursday in an attack the opposition blamed on Syria and its Lebanese allies. His killing four days after the start of Lebanon’s staggered parliamentary elections shocked the country that was just coming to terms with the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. REUTERS/Dalati Nohra
Reuters – 40 minutes ago
- An undated file picture shows Lebanese Samir Kassir, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist, who was killed in a car bomb explosion in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood east of Beirut. Politicians at the site blamed the blast, which caused little damage apart from to the car, on the pro-Syrian regime. AFP PHOTO/ANWAR AMRO(AFP/File /Anwar Amro)
AFP/File – 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
- Lebanese firefighters extinguish the burning car of prominent anti-Syrian journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed in a car bomb expolision in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood east of Beirut. Politicians at the site blamed the blast, which caused little damage apart from to the car, on the pro-Syrian regime.(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
AFP – 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
- This undated file photo released by Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper shows Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, who was killed in a car explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, 45, known for his anti-Syrian writings in An-Nahar daily, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/An-Nahar)
AP – 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
- Red Cross personnel carry the corpse of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir on a strecher following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
- Gibran Tueni, top right, An-Nahar newspaper’s general manager and newly elected opposition legislator, looks at the corpse of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 43 minutes ago
- A colleague of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Qaseer places a flag on his chair at the An-Nahar newspaper office in Beirut June 2, 2005. Qaseer, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut. His killing four days after the start of Lebanon’s staggered parliamentary elections shocked the country that was just coming to terms with the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.REUTERS/ Wael Ladki
Reuters – 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
- A Lebanese army officer guards the destroyed car of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
- Lebanese army officers surround the destroyed car of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir following an explosion in Beirut, Thursday, June 2, 2005. Kassir, known for his anti-Syrian writings, was killed after a bomb placed in his car exploded Thursday, police said, as the country was in the midst of parliamentary elections, free for the first time of overt Syrian interference. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
- Lebanese Red Cross personnel attempt to remove the body of journalist Samir Qaseer from his damaged car in Beirut June 2,2005. Qaseer, a prominent anti-Syrian journalist of An-Nahar newspaper, was killed on Thursday when a bomb destroyed his car as he started the engine in a Christian district of Beirut. His killing four days after the start of Lebanon’s staggered parliamentary elections shocked the country that was just coming to terms with the February 14, 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. (Sharif Karim/Reuters)
Reuters – 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
