Raids Lead to Arrest of 20 in North, South Lebanon
The number of arrests related to the terror cell behind three bomb attacks in northern Lebanon has reached more than 20, the daily As-Safir reported Wednesday.
Among the arrested were three men who were seized during a series of raids by the Lebanese army in Sidon, the paper said.
It said similar raids also were carried out in northern and eastern Lebanon, particularly in the Bekaa Valley.
As-Safir said among the detainees was a man identified as Mohammed al-Sabsi who is "very close" to Abdul Ghani Ali Jawhar, a fugitive in the case.
Interior ministry officials showed reporters an explosives belt, rifles, ammunition, bombs and guns that were found at the home of the sister of Ali Jawhar.
A security source told the Voice of Lebanon radio station on Wednesday that Jawhar”s hideout has been discovered and measures were taken to prevent his escape from the northern refugee camp of Beddawi to Ain el-Hilweh near Sidon.
As-Safir, citing well-informed sources, said a man who claims to be al-Qaida chief in Ain el-Hilweh and with links to Fatah al-Islam is likely the person who gave orders to detonate the bombs and facilitate terrorist access to explosives.
Among the targets the alleged al-Qaida chief planned to hit were the Internal Security Forces headquarters in Beirut”s Ashrafiyeh district and a military bus in addition to a number of assassinations, including one targeting Lebanese army commander Gen.
Jean Qahwazi who was at that time commander of the 10th Brigade.