People gather as firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs, Jan 2, 2014. The powerful explosion in Shi'ite group Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold killed three people on Thursday and sent a column of smoke into the sky, a witness said. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIRUT - At least 4 people were killed and more than 20 injured in a booby trapped car that exploded Thursday afternoon in the Bir El Abd neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

According to local security source, a car exploded in the Bir El Abd neighborhood in the heartland of Hezbollah and few meters close to the political council headquarters of the party at peak time and caused heavy material damages.

Hezbollah's Al Manar TV said that a possible second booby trapped car might have been parked near the explosion site of the first car and called on people to leave the aera in precaution.

Caretaker health minister Ali Khalil called on all Beirut hospitals to treat the injured on the expenses of the ministry.