A lone gunman killed four members of the security forces in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli overnight before blowing himself up, officials said Tuesday.

"The shooting spree resulted in the deaths of two members of the Lebanese army and two members of the internal security forces," a security official told AFP.

The army confirmed it had lost two of its men and the national news agency confirmed the overall toll of four.

There was no immediate claim for the shooting and the gunman's motives were unclear but two security officials at one of the scenes of the attack told AFP that he was a militant recently released from prison.

The gunman sowed panic in the streets late Monday, as Lebanon's second city prepared for the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the feast marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

He first opened fire on a branch of the central bank, a security official said.

A large number of security force personnel were deployed and the gunman also opened fire on a police station and on a military vehicle in the ensuing manhunt.

The attacker was eventually cornered in a residential building and killed himself by detonating an explosives vest he was wearing.

Lebanon, including Tripoli and areas around it, was affected by a spillover of violence from the conflict in neighbouring Syria but the security situation has been quiet in recent years. </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Two soldiers and two police officers were killed by a gunman in the Lebanese city of Tripoli

A lone gunman killed four members of Lebanon's security forces in the city of Tripoli on Monday night before blowing himself up, state media report.

Two police officers and two soldiers died after the man fired at a bank, a police station and an army vehicle.

He detonated an explosive vest after being surrounded in a flat by troops.

No group has said it was behind the attack, but the gunman is reported to have been a member of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

The army identified him as Abdul Rahman Mabsout, who LBC television said was detained when he returned from Syria in 2016 and was freed the following year.

Security had earlier been increased across the country in preparation for Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Interior Minister Raya Haffar al-Hassan tweeted her condolences to the victims' families, saying: "The first night of Eid in Tripoli was very painful, but it's over now. The security forces and the army paid a heavy price to maintain security of the city... May God have mercy on our martyrs."

More from Lebanon:

At a news conference on Tuesday, Ms Hassan described the shootings as a "lone wolf attack" and a "new form of terrorism", Reuters news agency reported.

"Can I tell you we can curb it 100%? We can't curb it. Countries that are perhaps more advanced than us have not been able to," she added.

Tripoli has in the past been affected by deadly violence linked to the eight-year civil war in Syria, with clashes erupting between groups who support or oppose President Bashar al-Assad.

The city has also seen fighting between the army and Islamist militants. </s> Lebanese military personnel secures the scene where a militant attacked a security forces patrol on Monday night, in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, on Tuesday (Reuters photo)

BEIRUT — A militant attacked a security patrol in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two soldiers before blowing himself up, officials said.

Interior Minister Raya Al Hassan described it as a "lone wolf attack", though authorities cancelled Eid Al Fitr celebrations in the coastal city on Tuesday and promised to secure it.

Major attacks had dropped off in Lebanon since a wave of militant bombings — many of them linked to the war in neighbouring Syria — struck parts of the country from 2013 to 2016.

The gunman threw a bomb at security forces in a government building and opened fire on a patrol, two security sources told Reuters. The attacker had earlier been in jail on charges of belonging to Daesh, one of the sources said.

The militant then detonated an explosive belt after soldiers raided a residential building where he was holed up, the army said.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri gave his condolences to the families of the dead and said all measures must be taken to protect Tripoli and "weed out any remnants of terrorism".

Interior Minister Raya Al Hassan, described the attack as "a new form of terrorism".

“Can I tell you we can curb it 100 per cent? We can’t curb it. Countries that are perhaps more advanced than us have not been able to,” she told a press conference.

The head of Lebanon’s internal security forces, accompanying her, said the agency constantly keeps tabs on suspects and sleeper cells.

“But when someone reaches a level of desperation in some cases, and carries out a crazy action, this leads us to not know about him [ahead of time],” Gen. Imad Othman told reporters.

Othman said the man had been in prison for a year and a month before being released, without giving further details. </s> AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday condemned the terrorist attack that caused a number of fatalities and injuries among security forces in Tripoli, Lebanon.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah reiterated the Kingdom’s solidarity with Lebanon in the face of terrorism, which threatens its security and stability.

In a Foreign Ministry statement, Qudah expressed his condolences over the fatalities and wished the injured a speedy recovery, reaffirming Jordan’s rejection of all forms of violence that target everyone, without consideration to religion or race.

A militant attacked a security patrol in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two soldiers before blowing himself up, officials said.

Interior Minister Raya Al Hassan described it as a "lone wolf attack", though authorities cancelled Eid Al Fitr celebrations in the coastal city on Tuesday and promised to secure it, according to Reuters. </s> Military police and forensics in white overalls deployed in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Tuesday after a lone gunman killed four security personnel before blowing himself up in an apartment in a residential building overnight.

The rare shooting, in which the gunman used a motorcycle to move around, opening fire on police and army vehicles, shook the predominantly Sunni Muslim coastal city on the eve of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Interior Minister Raya El Hassan told reporters the gunman, identified as Abdul-Rahman Mabsout, is a former member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and now a "lone wolf." She said the situation was under control.

The shooting began late Monday with the gunman firing at a branch of the Lebanese Central Bank, then driving around, shooting at police and later at an army vehicle, killing four.

With police opening fire and using tear gas, he then drove to a residential building, where he shot his way up the stairs and into an empty apartment on the fourth floor and barricaded himself inside.

An hours-long standoff ensued, culminating with security forces storming the apartment. Cornered, the gunman detonated his explosives vest, killing himself instantly.

On Tuesday, there were multiple signs of battle. At least four civilian cars and one police car were heavily damaged, their windshields smashed and pocked by bullet holes.

Military police and forensics removed bullets from the street. Tear gas canisters were still on the ground.

The nine-floor apartment building where Mabsout died was shell pocked and the apartment was partially destroyed.

The owner of the apartment said he and his family were not in the house when the gunman stormed the building, but his flat was left largely destroyed by the explosion. He said the attacker entered his building after shooting one person in the street.

"Thank God there was nobody in the house, and my door is not made of steel, it is a wooden door so I think he broke the door and he walked in," Kamal Ferri told The Associated Press.

Mabsout was described as a former member of ISIS who fought with the extremist movement in Syria. He had been detained when he returned to Lebanon in 2016 and was released a year later.

The Lebanese army announced earlier it had increased security around the country because of Eid el-Fitr, when people go out to celebrate.

Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city, has in the past seen clashes between rival groups that support or oppose the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad. The city is also home to some extremists who had fought against the Lebanese army.

Militants linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda militants have claimed responsibility over th years for attacks in different parts of Lebanon that killed dozens of people. Such attacks have been rare recently. </s> Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analysis from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

A militant attacked a security patrol in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two soldiers before blowing himself up, officials said.



Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan described it as a "lone wolf attack," though authorities canceled Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the coastal city on Tuesday and promised to secure it.

Major attacks had dropped off in Lebanon since a wave of militant bombings - many of them linked to the war in neighboring Syria - struck parts of the country from 2013 to 2016.The gunman threw a bomb at security forces in a government building and opened fire on a patrol, two security sources told Reuters. The attacker had earlier been in jail on charges of belonging to Islamic State, one of the sources said.The militant then detonated an explosive belt after soldiers raided a residential building where he was holed up, the army said.Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri gave his condolences to the families of the dead and said all measures must be taken to protect Tripoli and "weed out any remnants of terrorism."Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan, described the attack as "a new form of terrorism.""Can I tell you we can curb it 100%? We can't curb it. Countries that are perhaps more advanced than us have not been able to," she told a press conference.The head of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, accompanying her, said the agency constantly keeps tabs on suspects and sleeper cells."But when someone reaches a level of desperation in some cases, and carries out a crazy action, this leads us to not know about him (ahead of time)," General Imad Othman told reporters.Othman said the man had been in prison for a year and a month before being released, without giving further details.

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For more information and to sign up, click here>> </s> A militant attacked a security forces patrol in Lebanon’s northern city of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two army soldiers, state news agency NNA and Reuters reported.

Two security sources told Reuters the police and army had encircled the gunman in a building after he threw a bomb at security forces in a government building and fired at a patrol.

One of the sources said that the attacker then blew himself up and that he had been in jail before on charges of belonging to Daesh.

The Lebanese military confirmed the attack and the death of a soldier and said the attacker had also fired at the security forces’ centre.

Lebanese authorities say they have foiled numerous attacks in recent years, including some tied to the conflict across the border in Syria. From 2013 to 2016, militants struck parts of Lebanon repeatedly with bomb attacks, but officials have since said that security has improved. </s> A gunman has killed four members of Lebanon's security forces in an overnight attack in the northern city of Tripoli. He later blew himself up after being surrounded by troops.

Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan described the attacker as a "lone wolf".

He has been identified as Abdul Rahman Mabsout, who is reported to have been a member of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) detained in Lebanon after returning from neighbouring Syria in 2016. </s> WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
• Up to seven people are reported to have been shot by a gunman in the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx, in New York City;
• There are reports that three of the victims are doctors. Their condition is unknown as yet;
• The shooter is now dead, police confirmed;
• The AP has quoted a law enforcement official saying that the gunman killed at least one person before apparently killing himself;
• The shooter was a doctor who used to work there, a police official said;
• It is reported the shooter wore a white lab coat, and was armed with a rifle;

Update 10.02pm: The gunman who opened fire at a New York City hospital, killing at least one person, was a doctor who used to work there, a police official said.

Dr Henry Bello walked into Bronx Lebanon Hospital at about 2.50pm on Friday with a rifle concealed in his lab coat and opened fire, killing at least one person and injuring six others, before apparently killing himself.

Dr Bello was listed on the hospital's website as a family medicine physician.

It is not clear when he left the hospital.

Update 9.46pm: A man pulled a rifle from under his white lab coat and opened fire inside a Bronx hospital today, killing at least one person and wounding others before apparently taking his own life, police in New York said.

The gunfire broke out at 2.50pm inside the Bronx Lebanon Hospital, bringing police cars and fire vehicles rushing to the scene and sending officers onto the roof with their guns drawn as people inside the building were told to hide.

Officers went floor by floor looking for the gunman and reported just before 4pm that the shooter was dead inside the building.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the gunman apparently killed himself.

According to the law enforcement official, the shooter was wearing a lab coat and had the rifle concealed.

The official was not authorised to discuss the still-unfolding investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Update 9.39pm: The gunman at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in New York City killed one person and injured six, and was a former employee at the facility, The Associated Press has reported.

Update 9.28pm: The Associated Press is quoting a law enforcement official as saying that the New York hospital gunman killed at least one person before apparently turning the gun on himself.

Update 9.04pm: A New York City police spokesman has said that a gunman inside the Bronx Lebanon Hospital has been shot dead.

Update 8.55pm: Police say at least two people have been shot at a New York City hospital and the gunman is still at large.

The gunfire broke out at 2.50pm local time on Friday inside the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx.

Police could be seen on the roof of the building, at one point, with their guns drawn.

Update 8.48pm: The New York Times is reporting that at least three doctors were shot inside Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in the Mount Hope area of the Bronx, according to a Fire Department official.

The condition of the doctors is not known.

The Times further reports that in a radio transmission, police described the gunman as a tall, thin man wearing a blue shirt and white lab coat.

Multiple people have been shot at a New York City hospital, police said.

The gunfire broke out at 2.50pm local time today inside the Bronx Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx.

Police had no immediate information on whether anyone was killed.

Television images showed the hospital surrounded by police cars and fire vehicles.

It is being reported the shooter or shooters are still at large, and may still be in the hospital.

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Centre describes itself as the largest voluntary, not-for-profit health care system in the south and central Bronx.

The 120-year-old hospital claims nearly 1,000 beds spread across multiple units.

Its emergency room is among the busiest in New York City.

The hospital is about a mile and a half north of Yankee Stadium.
A gunman kills four security officers and injures two before blowing himself up in Tripoli, Lebanon (BBC)