Gibran Tueini, Al-Nahar's general manager and senior editor, was elected as an MP in Beirut last weekend, and was on the scene immediately following the explosion.

Initial speculation was that he was accompanied by wife Giselle Khoury, a former talk show host on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) channel. Ya Libnan confirmed that Mrs Khoury is in fact outside of Lebanon, and was not involved in the tragedy.

Army, Police & Fire departments rushed to secure the area. Prime Minister Najib Mikati was also on the scene.

This dark day is reminiscent of the February 14 bombing that claimed the lives of Rafik Hariri and 19 others. The phone network is jammed, making it extremely difficult to make calls.

Also see the related Ya Libnan article: Opposition blames Lahoud and Syria for latest assassination

Take note some of the following pictures from the crime scene are very GRAPHIC:

A colleague of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir places a flag on his chair at the An-Nahar newspaper office in Beirut.

May he rest in peace.

Full coverage from Ya Libnan:
* Lebanon protests another murder: Pictures from Martyrs' Square
* Lebanese Journalists pay tribute to murdered colleague
* Lebanon's murdered journalist: An open letter to the Lebanese
* Vigil held to honor slain journalist in Beirut
* France & Lebanon outraged for assassination of Lebanese Journalist
* Tragedy strikes again in Beirut
* Journalist targeted and killed in Beirut explosion
* Opposition blames Lahoud and Syria for latest assassination
* Anti-Syrian journalist murdered in Beirut
* Photographs of Samir Kassir's tragic crime scene

Related editorial: Where is the outrage?

Source: Ya Libnan
Photo credit: AP & Reuters