Lebanese commandos raid prison after suicide bombing
Lebanese commandos raid prison after suicide bombing
Security forces entered Roumieh prison in Beirut after intercepting conversations between Sunni militant inmates and would-be suicide bombers.
2 min read
Security forces targeted prisoners with "special security status" [Anadolu]
Lebanese security forces raided Roumieh prison in Beirut after inmates were connected to the suicide bombing in Tripoli on Saturday that killed nine.
The Monday raid by members of al-Fuhud, an elite internal security unit, targeted cells blocks belonging to prisoners with "special security status", including some high profile Sunni militants.
The raid led to protests at the prison with inmates rioting a setting fire to matresses, a government statement said. Security forces moved several targets to another area of the prison for questioning.
According to an legal source, Lebanese security authorities intercepted calls late last year between inmates and those who carried out suicide attacks in Lebanon, and the
bombers behind the attack in Tripoli.
Prisoners have been using smartphones and computers to communicate with the outside world.
In a press statement, Lebanon's interior minister Nouhad Machnouk denied any link between the security operation in Roumieh and kidnapped Lebanese soldiers being held hostage by the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front.
The militants are asking for prisoners to be released in exchange for the soldiers. Nusra responded quickly to Machnouk’s statement on Twitter saying: "Surprises concerning the prisoners of war [the Lebanese soldiers] will accompany the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon."
Security authorities said there were no casualties in the raid. However, pictures were posted to social media sites showing injuries to inmates suffered during the operation.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The Monday raid by members of al-Fuhud, an elite internal security unit, targeted cells blocks belonging to prisoners with "special security status", including some high profile Sunni militants.
The raid led to protests at the prison with inmates rioting a setting fire to matresses, a government statement said. Security forces moved several targets to another area of the prison for questioning.
According to an legal source, Lebanese security authorities intercepted calls late last year between inmates and those who carried out suicide attacks in Lebanon, and the
 |
Prisoners have been using smartphones and computers to communicate with the outside world. |
Prisoners have been using smartphones and computers to communicate with the outside world.
In a press statement, Lebanon's interior minister Nouhad Machnouk denied any link between the security operation in Roumieh and kidnapped Lebanese soldiers being held hostage by the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front.
The militants are asking for prisoners to be released in exchange for the soldiers. Nusra responded quickly to Machnouk’s statement on Twitter saying: "Surprises concerning the prisoners of war [the Lebanese soldiers] will accompany the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon."
Security authorities said there were no casualties in the raid. However, pictures were posted to social media sites showing injuries to inmates suffered during the operation.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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