BEIRUT — Lebanon’s head of internal intelligence Wissam al-Hassan has been killed in a massive car bomb attack in central Beirut.
The motive for the bombing was not immediately clear, but the explosion came amid growing concerns that the conflict in neighboring Syria could spill over into Lebanon.
The October 19 blast occurred in predominantly Christian east Beirut, near the headquarters of the Christian Phalange party. Hassan, had led an investigation that implicated Syria and Lebanon’s Hizballah Shi’ite militia in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Hassan also led an investigation that uncovered a recent bombing plot that led to the arrest of a Lebanese politician who is allied with Assad.
An Armenian woman identified as Georgette Sarkisian was among the victims.
