The happy couple was supposed to be celebrating their marriage.
Dr. Israa Seblani and Ahmad Sbeih were on the streets of Beirut, with Seblani posing for photos in a dramatic, white wedding gown. It was a day like any other in the city's Saifi Village, she said, with people out and about shopping and dining in restaurants.
Then all of a sudden, there was a loud noise. Seconds later, an eardrum-shattering blast erupted behind her.
That horrifying sound was the massive explosion rocked the Lebanese capital, leaving at least at least 135 dead and 5,000 injured. Mahmoud Nakib, the couple's wedding photographer, captured the moment it all went down.
"We were filming an outdoor photo session for the (Seblani) and (Sbeih), then we heard an explosion," Nakib told CNN. "That was the first explosion, we thought that is was far away, we continued filming normally."
But that soon changed.
"In just one second, the sky turned black and we heard the second explosion," Nakib said.
As the explosion went off, an intense gust of wind created by the explosion's shockwave roared through the square, the video showed.
"The area I was in — within matter of seconds — it went from beautiful place to ghost town filled with dust, shattered glass and people yelling [and] bleeding," Seblani told CNN. "It was like a nightmare scene."
The shockwave pushed Nakib down the street, he said, nearly knocking him over. But his camera kept rolling, shakily documenting the chaotic scene for a few seconds longer.
Seblani, Nakib and the rest of the wedding party headed inside as the blast echoed through the streets of Beirut. Everyone in the wedding party is doing OK, and no one was hospitalized.
#Lebanon #CNN #News
I hope everyone is safe out there.
Until the domestic terrorist known has antifa and blm are subdued… Nobody is safe.
The better phrase I hope they comeback from this tragedy because it killed a lot of people and their futures plans all in one event
This is terrible, a perfect day ruined by an explosion. I hope the bride and groom are okay.
They good
T
nicehttps://youtu.be/zFJ2AN_CZH8
Idiot
She’s sooo pretty 🇨🇦👍🏼
Islamic explosion
A wedding day she will never forget. The marriage started bad….hopefully…they have a long and successful marriage.
@NPC #3892741 hope you get covid
NPC #3892741 why the need for hate? they didn’t do anything to you
@Megan Stevens the effeminate trend in liberal men is undeniable. I don’t have to be a butch mma fighter to be an alpha compared to liberal male standards. Deny this trend all you want.
@Michael Clagett the Bible wasn’t upside down. Stop spreading fake news. Corona is enevitable. Just get it over with beta.
Also gas wasn’t used to disperse the rioters around the white house. It was smoke. Damn …2 debunks in one comment.
@cj p A major in the District of Columbia National Guard told lawmakers he saw “excessive” force used in June when law enforcement cleared protesters gathered near the White House ahead of President Trump’s controversial photo opportunity at St. John’s Church.
Maj. Adam DeMarco, who served as a liaison between the D.C. National Guard and the Park Police at Lafayette Square, told lawmakers the disproportionate use of force he witnessed against largely peaceful protesters was “deeply disturbing” to him and other Guardsman.
The National Guard was not actively involved in the clearing of protesters on June 1 but was at the scene to “reinforce and relieve” the Park Police if needed, according to DeMarco’s written testimony.
DeMarco spoke Tuesday before the House Natural Resources Committee along with acting U.S. Park Police Chief Gregory Monahan, who defended his agency’s actions. Monahan told lawmakers the protesters were pushed back that day because of “sustained” violent incidents and violent confrontations with law enforcement.
The police had broken up a protest on Monday shortly before the president crossed the street and posed with a Bible in front of St. John’s, an Episcopal church that had been damaged by fire earlier in the week.
The campaign referenced a statement from U.S. Park Service that insisted “no tear gas was used by (United States Park Police) officers or other assisting law enforcement partners to close the area at Lafayette Park.” The statement added that the Park Service’s actions were allegedly in response to escalation by demonstrators.
Trump also tweeted an article about the subject, calling it “a must read!”
His campaign insisted that news organizations correct their stories.
However, according to faith leaders who were at the park that day and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, law enforcement used chemicals that are regularly described as tear gas while breaking up the protest.
The Park Service statement claimed law enforcement used chemical agents such as “smoke canisters and pepper balls,” which the CDC says are also referred to as tear gas, as first reported by The Washington Post.
“Riot control agents (sometimes referred to as ‘tear gas’) are chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin,” reads a CDC fact sheet. The CDC document later mentions the use of “pepper spray.”
We are all humans and we should never ever give up. We fall! We get up! Let Faith and hope keep everyone together!!!!!!
But then again, stupidity holds us back😪
@bird_npc 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
O…m…g…i can only imagine…but you made it so congrats
What a beautiful couple, I’m glad you’re safe. Bless you and keep safe! 💕💕💕
That’s one helluva wedding day story
Not many brides can say that their wedding was a boom. But to be serious, glad u guys are alive and well. Take care to all Lebanese friends
Definitely not too early to be making jokes in the wake of an explosion that killed more than a hundred people. Stay classy.
I think things usually get worse after the wedding, especially if the woman isn’t obedient! there must have been some wild sex that night
@Haqim Al-Arabia Hello Mr islamophobe.
“our wedding was a blast”.. all il-timed kidding aside happy they are ok
She’s beautiful. So sorry for this horrible day.
what about the husband?
I sympathize with the victims and have faith that better days will come
Absolutely devastating way to end their wedding, but at least they’ve got a hell of a story to tell their grandkids!
nicehttps://youtu.be/zFJ2AN_CZH8
That they do sir
He’s married an American woman which means he’ll be able to tell his grandkids how grandma raked him over the coals for child support after the divorce that She initiated.
Uh . . . I guess you’re trying to be cute/funny. Considering how may people died in that moment – on their wedding day – in a city they love . . . sorry, buddy, NOT funny or cute. Just really gauche.
Shame on you.
@WindWoman 3 dark humor is like food. Some people just dont get it.
They had us in the first half, not gonna lie.
(But seriously, congrats to the bride and condolences to those affected by the explosion.)
May God protect everyone with the explosion and sorry for the loss of the ones that did not make it it’s so sad but Allah knows the Almighty what is doing he will protect and save you please pray for everyone there the bride the groom the family and everyone that is devastated from the explosion please protect and save the one that has made it and please pray for the ones that has not made it may I lost save everyone
A wedding to talk about.The kids and grand kids would have a lovely story to write about.Wish them all the best
This is not a lovely story, it’s tragic. The only thing lovely about this is that they made it out alive
@NewAlias I guess they will sure a great grade in college for writing this story
I’m so sorry that this happened at all but on a day that was full of joy, she felt so scared. I am just glad they’re ok and I hope this bonds them even more 💗
Beautiful beautiful bride by the way 👰🌺🌹
Why are people blaming Israel and saying people from the middle east are terrorists, that’s just racist on another level UGHHH!!!! So irritating!! 👿👿😡
Blaming one who did wrong and putting them all as a whole is wrong. People should never ever ever. Make one bad to say the whole is bad. I hate hate that. There is a man named Manson he is white he is a horrible killer with other people. Does that make all whites bad hell no. SICK of it. It’s the character I go by. I love LOVE EVERONE race and religion. So with this talk. Sorry
It’s long. I love you
NOMATTER where you come from color or religion. And I am PRAYING for your home.
@Clark Kathleen husband As a muslim I go by that, peace salaam x
GOD BLESS . HOPE NOONE ELSE IN HER FAMILY WAS HURT. BEST WISHES
Theirs is a best case scenario. They were very lucky to have survived.
Mom: Now kids this is how we got married
Kids: Cool movie
This wedding was literally a blast. I am happy they got married though and they alive
I’ve heard of starting your marriage off with a bang, but this is ridiculous.