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Islamic State claims Lebanon suicide bombing

Lebanese army and plainclothes policemen gather outside the Duroy hotel where a suicide bomber blew himself up in his room, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, June 25, 2014, as Lebanese security forces raided the premises. The bombing is the latest in a string of attacks and security sweeps in Lebanon over the past week that have sparked fears of renewed violence in a country that has been deeply affected by the civil war in neighboring Syria. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) Lebanese army and plainclothes policemen gather outside the Duroy hotel where a suicide bomber blew himself up in his room, in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, June 25, 2014, as Lebanese security forces raided the premises. The bombing is the latest in a string of attacks and security sweeps in Lebanon over the past week that have sparked fears of renewed violence in a country that has been deeply affected by the civil war in neighboring Syria. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

By Associated Press June 27, 2014 1 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – The al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has claimed responsibility for this week’s Beirut hotel bombing.

Friday’s claim, in an online statement, was the first by the group for a suicide attack in Lebanon. It recently captured wide areas in northern Iraq and eastern Syria.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a Beirut’s Duroy Hotel on Wednesday when security forces raided it to arrest him. His accomplice was wounded and was being questioned at a Beirut hospital.

Lebanese officials said both men were from Saudi Arabia. Eleven people, including three security men, were wounded in the blast.

It was the third suicide bombing in Lebanon in less than a week and sparked fears of renewed violence.