LONDON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The British government on Tuesday called on its citizens in Lebanon to exercise "extreme vigilance" given the high threat of terrorist attacks in the country.
"There is a high risk of attacks by Islamist extremist groups, which could be indiscriminate and affect places visited by foreigners like hotels, restaurants, tourist sites Western-style shopping centers and supermarket chains," a Tuesday travel warning said. "We advise you to exercise extreme vigilance."
The advisory said at least three people were killed and 30 others were injured when a car bomb exploded Tuesday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area controlled by Hezbollah. That attack follows car bombings in the region Jan. 16 and Jan. 2.
At least six people were killed, including former Finance Minister Mohammad Chatah, in a Dec. 27 bombing in downtown Beirut.
Lebanon's national security has come under threat from civil war in neighboring Syria. Attacks like Tuesday's have occurred with greater frequency following Hezbollah's announcement last year it had fighters battling alongside its pro-government Shiite allies in Syria.
The Daily Star newspaper in Lebanon reported Tuesday's bomb was carried out by al-Nusra front, a Sunni al-Qaida group opposed to Hezbollah.
