A bomb caused extensive damage when it exploded outside an American fast-food restaurant early Thursday morning in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, police said. No one was injured in the 4 a.m. blast, but a laborer suffered cuts from falling glass during a cleanup operation. Several parked cars were damaged.
Police said a bomb containing 1.5 kilograms of TNT was placed at the entrance to a building housing Kentucky Fried Chicken and Hardee's burger chain on the southern side of the port city.
According to AP, police said they were investigating a possible link between the bombing and a campaign to boycott American products in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians.
Kentucky Fried Chicken and Hardee's are operated in the Middle East by Americana, a 38-year-old Kuwait-based food distribution and retail company. The Americana group also has franchises for Pizza Hut, TGI Friday's and Baskin Robbins.
The campaign against US products prompted some local owners of American fast-food franchises to publish advertisements in newspapers denying rumors that Israel benefited from their revenues.
Last month, three people were arrested on suspicion of planning to bomb a Pizza Hut restaurant in south Beirut. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
