LEBANON: SHELLS HIT SABRA DISTRICT OF BEIRUT AFTER FUNERAL OF MRS. LINDA AL-ATRASH, SISTER OF SOCIALIST LEADER KAMAL JUMBLATT.

Record ID: 506898

  • Title: LEBANON: SHELLS HIT SABRA DISTRICT OF BEIRUT AFTER FUNERAL OF MRS. LINDA AL-ATRASH, SISTER OF SOCIALIST LEADER KAMAL JUMBLATT.
  • Date: 30th May 1976
  • Summary: CU remains of leg on truck and truck moving off (2 shots)
  • Embargoed: 14th June 1976 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Conflict,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA34LV6GTOHVM5ABQJS3EFWVP3W
  • Story Text: Scores of shells hit the heavily-populated Sabra district of Beirut on Saturday (29 May), and local residents said eight people were killed and twenty to thirty injured.
    The shelling took place on the day after the funeral of Mrs. Linda Al-Atrash, the sister of left-wing leader Kamal Jumblatt. Three men have been arrested as a result of right-wing investigations into her murder.
    According to one of two of Mrs. Al-Atrash's daughters wounded in the attack, four gunmen broke into the family home, killed her mother and then "chased my sister and I from room to room, firing at us". Nineteen spent cartridges were later found in the house.
    Mrs. Al-Atrash's funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including priests from the Greek Orthodox Church. Twelve pall-bearers carried the coffin, which as draped with roses, to the family vault in the mountains south of Beirut. There, a 21-gun salute was fired in her honour.
    The leader of the right-wing falangists, Pierre Gemayel, has deplored the murder, and claimed it was carried out by "criminals hired by certain parties bent on sabotaging efforts at reconciliation".
    The shelling of the Sabra region of Beirut on the day after the funeral was part of an outbreak of violence which left 80 people dead and 90 wounded in a 24 hour period. Sabra is a left-wing controlled district. The day's death toll was well above the normal figures for fighting during the civil war.
    SYNOPSIS: Heavy shelling has taken place in the Sabra district of Beirut, ending an unofficial 10-day truce in the Lebanese civil war. Civilian living in Sabra said eight people were killed and 20 to 30 injured in the explosions. A total of 80 people died and 90 were wounded in a day of fierce fighting throughout much of lebanon on Friday.
    Sabra was one of the worst-hit areas, and people fled the streets to seek cover as the shelling took place. Those with cars sped through the narrow streets in their hurry to escape the bombardment and shops and market stalls were abandoned as their owners ran for safety. The day's death toll was well above average for fighting during the civil war.
    The shelling came on the day after the funeral of Mrs. Linda Al-Atrash, sister of the leftist leader Kamal Jumblatt. Mrs. Al-Atrash was killed by four gunmen, who broke into her house and two of her daughters were wounded in the incident. Three men have since been arrested, following right-wing investigations into the murder.
    Hundreds of people attended the funeral, including priests from the Greek Orthodox Church. Twelve pall-bearers carried the coffin to the family vault up steep tracks into the Mukhtara mountains south of Beirut.
    Mr. Jumblatt was among the mourners.
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