Ain Alaq Main Suspect Tells Hearing Details of Twin Bombings
The main suspect in the 2007 twin bombings in Ain Alaq has confessed in detail to how he executed the operation after being recruited by Fatah al-Islam organization.
Ibrahim Sayou, a Syrian, is being tried for the February 13, 2007 explosion in Ain Alaq which killed three people and wounded 20 others. In addition to Sayou, two other Syrians are being tried for involvement while four other fugitives are being tried in absentia including Fatah leader Shaker al-Abssi.
Fatah officials, Omar al-Hajji, also known as Abi Omar, and Majd al-Din Abboud, known as Abi Yaza, recruited Sayou for the operation in order to send a "political message," according to the testimony. He did not elaborate on who the message was being sent to.
The attacks took place on the eve of a mass rally to commemorate the second anniversary of the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
The judicial council held Friday”s hearing, presided by Judge Ghaleb Ghanem, as part of the trial of detained suspects in the explosions.
Sayou confessed to placing two bags containing the explosives, which were prepared by Hajji and equipped with a timer in the buses. He claimed he did not know what was in the bags and was simply carrying out Hajji”s orders to place them in a crowded bus.
Sayou said he asked two ladies sitting in the back seat of one of the buses that he placed the bags there and asked them to move forward. He said he can recognize the two women in case he meets them. He did not elaborate on why he had told them of his intentions or whether they were involved.
The suspect said he entered Lebanon through al-Arida on February 1, 2007 and joined Fatah for eventually travelling to another country that he declined to name.