Three killed during bomb attack on US embassy car in Beirut

AN EXPLOSION targeted a US embassy vehicle yesterday in northern Beirut, killing at least three Lebanese and injuring an American bystander and a local embassy employee, US and Lebanese officials said.

The blast, which damaged the armoured SUV and several other vehicles, took place just ahead of a farewell reception for the American ambassador at a hotel in central Beirut.

No Americans were in the car, which was carrying two Lebanese employees of the embassy, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington.