Skip to main content
U.S. Edition
Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WORLD

Bombing targets Lebanese journalist

TV anchorwoman stable after losing limbs

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- A bomb planted in the car of a prominent Lebanese journalist blew up Sunday, critically wounding her, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation and Lebanese security officials said.

The blast apparently targeting LBC anchorwoman May Chidiac took place Sunday afternoon in Jounieh, north of Beirut.

Chidiac -- a prominent critic of Syria's presence in Lebanon -- was taken to a hospital, where a spokesman said she was stable after having her left leg and arm amputated, and would remain hospitalized for several days.

Her friend and co-worker Tania Mehanna said Chidiac got in her car after having eaten lunch at a friend's house, and the vehicle blew up.

Security officials said someone apparently placed the bomb underneath a seat in her car. The bomb destroyed the car.

Video of the vehicle showed the front section of the car mangled; the driver's seat was torn through.

The attack followed a series of bombings targeting people viewed as supporting the opposition and rejecting Syrian influence in the country.

Some of the bombings have targeted Christian areas of the country.

Journalists on edge

Three months ago, a prominent journalist, Samir Kassir, was killed in an attack similar to Sunday's bombing. Kassir, 45, was a columnist for the Lebanese daily newspaper An Nahar and a supporter of the Lebanese opposition.

Despite investigations, authorities have made no arrests.

"The most frightening thing about this is nobody knows why, nobody knows how, and nobody knows who's next," said Nadim Shehadi, who directs the Center for Lebanese Studies at Oxford University in Britain.

Hours before Sunday's blast, Chidiac was hosting a program on LBC about the possible involvement of Syrians in the February assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

The death of Hariri, a leader of the opposition, sparked a wave of protests in the capital against what many viewed as an occupation. The protests help lead to Syria's announced withdrawal from the country.

Mehanna said journalists have been on edge, especially since Kassir's death. Some are afraid to stay in the country for long periods of time.

"It's almost impossible to protect every journalist that you have in Lebanon," Mehanna told CNN. But she said certain media leaders "should get not only some kind of protection, but some respect for their opinions."

Cars are routinely searched at LBC headquarters when they enter the parking lot, she said. Mehanna said she believed whoever planted the bomb likely put it in after Chidiac drove to her friend's house.

Story Tools
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time! cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
CNN U.S.
CNN TV E-mail Services CNN Mobile CNNAvantGo Ad Info About Us Preferences
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines