Lebanese leaders condemn the blast at Blom Bank HQ in Beirut

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Monday, a day after an explosion rocked a bank HQ in Beirut, that the banking sector in Lebanon must abide by the International banking laws despite everything.

“The banking sector in Lebanon must stay linked to the International Banking System despite everything,” said Geagea via Twitter.

“We are still waiting for the investigation results of the bombing that targeted BLOM Bank Sunday evening. The issue is very delicate,” added the LF chief.

“I hope that the Central Bank of Lebanon and the Association of Banks in Lebanon take the necessary measures in that regard,” he added.

“The banking sector is the mainstay of the Lebanese economy and it is unacceptable to expose it to threats for anyone’s sake,” concluded Geagea.

For his part, Speaker Nabih Berri pointed out that the bombing aims to destabilize Lebanon and Hizbullah.

“The evil hands tried to destabilize Lebanon first and Hizbullah second,” said Berri.

“I urge everyone not to jump to conclusions or be driven behind suspicious schemes,” added the Speaker.

A bomb blast rocked the western part of the Lebanese capital late Sunday, with the interior minister saying the target was a major bank.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said that a bomb containing about 3-4 kilos of explosives had been “placed behind the back wall of BLOM Bank.”

“It is clear that the bank was the target,” he said.

Veteran Druze politician Walid Jumblat linked the bombing to a law voted in December by the U.S. Congress to impose sanctions on banks that deal with Hizbullah.

In May, Lebanon’s central bank instructed the country’s banks and financial institutions to comply with the US law.

Hizbullah’s parliamentary bloc warned at the time that the move could push Lebanon towards bankruptcy.

Washington has labeled Hizbullah a global terrorist group since 1995, accusing it of a long list of attacks including the bombing of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.

BLOM Bank director general Saad al-Azhari told reporters that no threats had been received by the bank ahead of Sunday’s blast.

A civil defense official said one person had been lightly wounded in the attack.

AFP