Security forces break up riot involving Islamist inmates at Roumieh
Security forces on Wednesday contained a prison riot among Islamist inmates at Roumieh Central Prison, Lebanon”s largest. According to a report carried by the state-run National News Agency, "limited" chaos spread inside the Roumieh facility after Islamists entered into a quarrel. Security forces inside the prison intervened to control the clash.
"The situation inside of Roumieh is under control," Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud said.
Inmates also rioted at Roumieh in April, taking seven wardens hostage and setting cells on fire. That incident began with a quarrel between prison guard Suleiman Suleiman and Palestinian inmate Youssef Shaaban, who is serving a life sentence for his role in assassinating a Jordanian diplomat in Beirut in 1994. The quarrel escalated after a few Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners intervened on Shaaban”s side. The seven hostages were later released.
The Dar al-Fatwa played a role in convincing the inmates call off their mutiny by dispatching Sheikh Ihab al-Banna who negotiated with them the Naharnet reported.
The Dar al-Fatwa played a role in convincing the inmates call off their mutiny by dispatching Sheikh Ihab al-Banna who negotiated with them the Naharnet reported.