Assailants Shoot at Judges” Vehicles
Lebanese authorities on Thursday were investigating a shooting incident that targeted the cars of two senior judges in Badaro the day before, causing material damages and inviting condemnation from top officials.
The vehicles belong to magistrates Talal Baydoun and Mirna Wanssa, who are members of the state Shura council. They were not in their cars at the time of the shooting.
Forensic experts were immediately dispatched to the area, where the Ministry of Justice is located. A bullet found lodged in Baydoun”s car was being examined, a statement by the National News Agency said Thursday.
"This is a message for the Lebanese judiciary," Baydoun said, adding that this was the second time his car was shot at.
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora called for "intensified" investigations into "this unacceptable attack." He described it as "an attempt to undermine the state and its organs and will not be dealt with lightly."
Earlier Thursday, Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the shooting as "an attempt to destroy Lebanon through targeting judges."
Echoing Berri”s comments, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud told reporters: "We absolutely reject any attempt to target the judiciary, and hope that the results of the investigation can be reached soon and made public."
Asked whether the shooting can be linked to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Baroud said he preferred "not to forestall the investigations." He pointed out that Lebanese judges were victims of violence long before the launching of the tribunal.