Factory Collapse: Discrepancies Highlighted

You’ve all probably woke up to the news of six-storey aluminum factory that collapsed in Zouk Mosbeh. As I type this, reports are coming in of the three missing in the collapse – one has been located though it will take sometime to free him. The other two, both Indian nationals are still unaccounted for and are believed to be located on the ground floor of the building.

What I would like to highlight is the discrepancies between what is said and the pictures that we are receiving. Primarily this quote raises questions:

“We are also concerned about the surrounding buildings, which are all factories and are subject to continuous shaking and vibrations,” [Brigadier General Darwish] Hobeika said.

But then the same AFP article carries this photo:

From AFP: Isn't that a residential building?

Isn’t that a residential building adjacent to the factory that collapsed? How could all the surrounding buildings be factories when clearly the photo shows otherwise? Either Brigadier General Darwish (who is heading the rescue mission) was misquoted or that this picture is not of the collapse. What would be worse is that Brigadier General Darwish is not on the ground and has no idea what is happening.

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Breaking News – 09:43am GMT

Israeli commandos seize ship containing arms destined for Hezbollah. Ship was off the coast of Cyprus and had originated from Iran.
Lebanese Army refused to comment stating that the incident occurred outside Lebanon’s borders and outside its national waters. The contents of the ship are being unloaded at the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Source

Update: November 5, 2009

Hezbollah denies link to arms seized from ship by Israel

…Israel had not provided evidence the arms were meant for Hezbollah - and the guerrilla group denied any link to the shipment. In a statement faxed to The Associated Press on Thursday, Hezbollah said it “categorically denies” any connection to the weapons.

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Breaking News – 05:42pm GMT

Four explosives found near the Justice Palace (Qasr Al 3adel) in Sidon. The explosives were not armed.

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Breaking News – 06:25am GMT

Lebanese Army finds 4 rockets targeting Israel in Houla, South Lebanon. Rockets were ready for launch.

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Breaking News – 07:55 GMT

Naji Hamdan, a US citizen of Lebanese origin, has been sentenced by a UAE court for supporting terrorism. He will continue to remain in prison for an additional 4 months before being deported.

Gulf News:

A US citizen of Lebanese origin has been sentenced to 18 months jail followed by deportation after being found guilty of supporting terrorism.
Naji Hamdan, who has been in custody in the UAE for 14 months, was charged with supporting terrorism and having links with Iraqi militant group Ansar Al Sunna because he entered an Islamic website and donated money to an Islamic charity.
[...]
Public prosecutors say that Hamdan donated US$2,000 to finance firing two rockets on Israel.

Update – October 13, 2009: Hamdan to be deported to Lebanon within the coming days

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