Reports: One Suicide Bomber behind Bir Hassan Attack Identified as Lebanese from Sidon
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
One of the two suicide attackers behind Tuesday's explosions in the Beirut neighborhood of Bir Hassan is Moein Abu Dahr from the southern city of Sidon, several media reports said on Friday.
“Moein Abu Dahr, who hails from Sidon, is one of the two suicide bombers who targeted the Iranian embassy in Bir Hassan,” LBCI television said on Friday afternoon.
LBCI added that he was close to Salafist cleric Ahmed al-Asir.
Al-Asir had warned of "revenge" three days before the Bir Hassan blasts.
Al-Jadeed television revealed that the alleged attacker's father, Adnan Abu Dahr, willingly went to the defense ministry after recognizing his son's picture.
“The father is being interrogated at the caretaker ministry of defense,” it added.
The same source also said that Moein Abu Dahr used to live in Kuwait before moving to Syria.
“He then returned to Lebanon to carry out the operation,” it said.
The Army Command clarified these reports in a communique on Friday evening: “As a result of circulating the picture of one of the most dangerous fugitives yesterday (Thursday), Adnan Abu Dahr informed the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau that it belongs to his son Moein.”
The military institution's statement added: “Samples have been taken from the father to do DNA testing and try to compare them with the bodies found at the scene of the explosion, under the supervision of the competent court.”
MTV said Moein Abu Dahr called his father 10 days ago asking for his forgiveness and since then, Adnan Abu Dahr hasn't heard from him.
LBCI remarked that the son called his father from Syria.
MTV quoted one of his relatives as saying he was in Sweden, before returning to Lebanon.
Meanwhile, OTV said both suicide bombers behind Tuesday's deadly blasts are Lebanese, after earlier reports had pointed out that they were Arabs.
“The attackers fought in Syria against President Bashar Assad's regime and participated in the fighting in Pakistan,” it said.
“Abu Dahr used to go to Bilal bin Rabah mosque in Sidon and has left the country after the Abra clashes.”
Moein Abu Dahr had promised al-Asir on his page on the social networking website Facebook that he will take revenge.
"They let you down Sheikh, but we will retaliate,” he wrote.
And a day before the Bir Hassan bombings, Abu Dahr took to Facebook to say that heaven “has opened its doors to receive him.”
In a related matter, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant posted a picture of Abu Dahr on Twitter, commenting that he's “the suicide bomber that attacked the Iranian embassy,” without mentioning Beirut in the caption.
Later on Friday evening, the Abu Dahr family “strongly” condemned in a released statement the deadly explosions nearby Beirut.
"We are deeply saddened that one of our relatives is accused of being behind the Bir Hassan explosions,” the statement posted on several Sidon-based websites said.
“We condemn this awful crime and we do not have enough words to describe it.”
It continued: “Abu Dahr is a conservative family that was raised according to the teachings of Islam that prohibit hurting others, and call for mercy and love.”
"We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and we pray for the recovery of the wounded.”
Since the news about the possible involvement of Abu Dahr in the Bir Hassan bombings broke out, security forces have cordoned off the area nearby his family's house in Sidon and have deployed heavily in the region.
They also erected checkpoints in the southern city, the state-run National News Agency reported.
An Agence France Presse journalist in Sidon said several journalists arrived to the port city, and one was beaten by supporters of al-Asir.
Fake identity cards used by the suicide attackers behind the blasts in Beirut's Bir Hassan neighborhood were made public on Thursday.
At least 23 people were killed and more than 145 others were wounded in a twin blast that took place on Tuesday morning near the Iranian Embassy in the neighborhood of Bir Hassan in Beirut's southern suburbs.
A security official said the first suicide attacker was on a motorcycle that carried two kilograms of explosives. He blew himself up at the large black main gate of the Iranian mission, damaging the three-story facility.
Less than two minutes later, the second suicide attacker driving a car rigged with 50 kilograms of explosives struck about 10 meters away, the official said.
The al-Qaida-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the bombings, according to the Twitter page of a cleric linked to the group.
"The Abdullah Azzam brigades - the Hussein bin Ali cells - are behind the attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut," Sheikh Sirajeddine Zuraiqat, the group's religious guide, posted on Twitter.
Zuraiqat called the operation “an invasion of the Iranian embassy in Beirut,” explaining that it is a “double martyrdom operation of two Sunni Lebanese heroes.”
22 November 2013, 18:48
00
Moein Abu Dahr called his father 10 days ago asking for his forgiveness and since then, he hasn't heard from him.
I don't think he's going to hear from him anymore.
22 November 2013, 18:49
00
Revenge for Hizbollah's involvement of Abra fight against Asir????
22 November 2013, 19:05
00
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Monday that 90 percent of foreign terrorists who infiltrate Iraq did so via Syria. 2009 09 01
22 November 2013, 19:09
00
Sheikhs should be more powerful in Heaven. Strange they don't blow themselves up then isn't it. Sick Psychopaths.
22 November 2013, 19:43
00
maybe that tells you something about the real perpetrators, genius.
22 November 2013, 19:56
00
just remember what president buch said after 9 11
god bless America
22 November 2013, 20:30
00
Josh bustany, don't you have a life? Is insulting islam everything you know?
22 November 2013, 21:06
1411
extremists bombing other extremists. what's new?
the problem is that these hizbushaitan extremists have brought death and desolation onto the shia community.
22 November 2013, 21:20
911
ITs extremists bombing innocent civilians. You are calling the innocent civilian extremists
22 November 2013, 22:31
1311
Hezbollah does this on a daily basis with 15.OOO jihadis..... These two heroes were insignificant in comparison .
22 November 2013, 21:39
912
Actually people and Iran have much more rights than people in KSA. At least the jewish and christian population can practice freely
22 November 2013, 21:43
1012
"...Abu Dahr took to Facebook to say that heaven “has opened its doors to receive him.”
You're gonna be in for a rude surprise, filthy terrorist.
22 November 2013, 21:59
714
i wish he can write to his friends from wherever he is and tells them about what happens to the soul when you kill people.
22 November 2013, 21:49
1110
thats for obvious reasons such as there are no Hezz/Syria bombers.
22 November 2013, 21:50
1012
Didn't M14 give political cover for assir and protect him and look what one who was protected by M14 did.
22 November 2013, 21:59
148
Hezb iran brought the takfiri suicide bombers. Not M14.
HA and iran became panicky of loosing the assadist in syria so they went to support Assad. Period. They didnt go to save lebanon. They went to save their own A.. .
By doing that they created a huge resentment in the sunni community. THEIR ACTIONS MANUFACTURED TAKFIRIS FROM SCRATCH. They imported the takfiri threat to lebanon.
But the wheel will turn and HA will go to the dustbin of history like hitler and mussolini and staline went. Mark my words
22 November 2013, 22:38
914
Your statement shows a complete lack of compassion and humanity benzona. How can you be so hateful? Every single one of us has been affected by the recent acts of terrorism. This man is deluded, brainwashed and misguided in the same manner others that you mention are.
The loss of innocent life from any sect is surely something not to be celebrated nor mocked. You insult God by mentioning his name following such a statement.
I honestly wish you enlightenment mate
God bless
22 November 2013, 22:46
149
At least I don't stick an AK47 in the drawn hand of God on a yellow background.
Deliver Nasrallah, Qassem, plus the other assassins to the Hague and refund people for their losses and i can certify the kamikazes will return to where they came from.
And if, a pacifist like me, is ulcered by the humiliations endured on a daily basis, imagine what other are feeling. Get real, disarm the 6O.OOO chia terrorists, give the 4O.OOO rockets to the army or the UN or face more anger and suicide bombers!
22 November 2013, 22:53
139
Already 5 aliases voted me down in 30 seconds. You're such a pathetic little loser.
22 November 2013, 22:55
713
You might have noticed benzona that I did not mention hezballah. I mentioned innocent lives wasted because this sick individual decided to blow himself up in the name of God. I am sure God is very proud of this individual and has rewarded him handsomely in heaven. Did the people who died really deserve it? Did they really? Come on man I assume you're a smart guy, do you really think this is the answer? Hatred will only lead to more hatred and eventually to the destruction of what's left of our beloved country. When will we learn that we are killing each other. We are all one and the same. The common man in Lebanon is one and the same whatever his religious affiliations are.
22 November 2013, 22:58
126
Nobody is innocent.... Especially not the people living in that street giving away baklawa when Rafic Hariri was murdered.
Sin'b sin, 3ein'b 3ein. And let everyone get blind and teethless. That way the world will be safer, no more murderers and assassins, nor cannibals to quote your M8 terrorist friends.
22 November 2013, 22:43
913
What a deluded and brainwashed individual! Because of his hatred 23 innocent lives perished.
To all those who preach war and death I say this; Your Lebanon is not my Lebanon. Do what you please in yours and leave mine alone.
May God enlighten the deluded from all sides and protect the innocent.
22 November 2013, 22:49
138
You certainly aren't innocent. Think about it! Nobody is. Being quiet or order not to meddle and save people is not sign of innocence but rather cowardice. Wanting to protect your selfish little life or community or whatever it is certainly more shameful. Your silence kills !!!!! You are NOT innocent.
22 November 2013, 23:03
146
Action = Hezbollah desecrating people by the thousand.
Reaction = a couple kamikazes every now and then.
Frankly, I don't want any government involving that party of terror, if chias want to be represented they should vote for the berri mafioso or Lebanese option party.
22 November 2013, 23:06
137
To2borné southern, who killed thousands of people ? My stance or Hezbollah?
Who assassinates our leaders, bright free press authors and cops? My stance or chiite Hezbollah?
Get real brainwashed little M8 thug.
22 November 2013, 23:06
1010
I'll have to disagree with you benzona. Unlike your unreasonable hateful self I have left my job in the UK to go down and aid the Syrian refugees in Lebanon. I have also offered medical assistance to those hurt and traumatised following the last three bombings both in Tripoli and in da7yeh. I promote peace while you promote war, revenge and death. I may not be innocent in your eyes but I hope that I have brought smiles and hope to many children and vulnerable adults who are suffering. This is certainly more than you ever will do with your medieval hateful comments.
I repeat, my Lebanon is not like your Lebanon.
22 November 2013, 23:15
910
Benzona you are good at accusing. Words are words unless otherwise proven. The Hariri case was provided with evidence proving Isreal did it and the evidence was given creditibility by a high ranking German official. The other assassinations don't lead to HA because there is no evidence proving it.
22 November 2013, 23:16
126
It's good you bought yourself a conscience and feel the need to share it with the world. How selfless you are and what you do. It's good that you have your own Lebanon, keep living in your own little world, one day you'll wake up discovering that all your neighbours are mass murderers.
As of your little actions with the Syrians, it's great but I've done 10x more but won't expose myself because I don't by myself a conscience.
I left London last year after spending 6 years there, now you know you not alone leaving a country behind. It should make you feel better since you shouted it loud and clearly.
22 November 2013, 23:29
69
I'm sure you've done much more benzona. Good for you, I'm glad you're not just a hateful individual. I don't need to "buy myself a conscience" as you so well put it because I already have one.
I am not even going to personally attack you because all it will lead to is a petty argument with an unreasonable individual.
Fine I'm a guilty man with a bought conscience who's a coward trying to protect my selfish little life or community. Are you happy now?
I wish there were more people like you benzona because Lebanon doesn't have enough courageous, petty and hateful individuals like you.
23 November 2013, 01:19
35
Really? He nailed who primesuspect? Are you really saying that it's OK to kill innocent civilians? Really? If Hizballah does it it's wrong and if these guys do it it's wrong. Plain and simple. What is wrong with you people?
23 November 2013, 02:32
52
wrong question chico. u live and work in lebanon, right? the question is wat R U -as an inividual- doing to stop hizbula?
do u enjoy picking up the pieces? u should go @ the root of the problem.
dude, u need 2 understand, I'll use metaphores 2 make it understandable instead of using spanglish: Hassan started a fire and is not interested in putting it off because he's also a firefighter and an insurer.
Khaleel says, wat the heck, Hassan started his fire and burned many family's y friends’ houses. Let me burn some of Hassan's houses I have nothing else to lose. But khaleel forgets he's not a firefighter nor an insurer and will not make any money on it.
23 November 2013, 02:32
53
And here U r standing illusionoflebanon, watching both... the 2 fires are still ongoing and about to merge into a huge one. ur house is also in sight.... wat will u do? tell khaleel to put it off? but he's not equipped and his fire is smaller for now and won't affect the outcome this much. or do u tell Hassan to put it off because he's got the right tools and insurance will cover it? well, Hassan is stubborn, and wants everything to burn down to the ground.... remember he’s insured.
U r left with 3 opcions.
a) U pack ur stuff and move ur family out of the house
b) U bring another firefighter from outside but will likely come 2 late
c) U try putting off the fire urself and risk getting burnt.
I don't know wat's better to tell u the truth, it's just that complaining here on Naharnet about Hassan or Khaleel is a waste of time, the fire is getting closer to ur home and time is of the essence.
23 November 2013, 03:14
25
primesuspect, no I do not live in Lebanon unfortunately. Please read my post. I am not trying to defend anyone as far as I'm concerned they can all go to hell for destroying all hope in Lebanon. All I'm saying is why would anyone steep so low as to loose their own humanity. Wasted innocent lives are not to be celebrated.
Look mate thx for the metaphor although I would have been nicer if it was less patronising. I am not some young dreamer. Am I happy with what's happening? Heck no. How can anyone be?
All this crazy behaviour will spiral out of control. I don't know how old you are and whether you remember the civil war. I remember it clearly and I can never forget it however much I try.
What is happening is nothing to be proud of and definitely not worth cheering for. It is ghastly and awful at best. You know I'm right
22 November 2013, 23:19
117
It was a Hezbollah rockets who destroyed many small businesses in Abra, the rockets were fired from afar, not from the jihadists positions. So youre wrong AGAIN.
22 November 2013, 23:22
118
I've got to go light a candle for the hero.
You terrorism apologists may keep arguing with each other and justifying the hezbollahi/Bachari/aouni terrorism.
Ciao ciao
22 November 2013, 23:30
77
You are still wrong and fabricating accusations with no evidence. The Lebanese army was fighting these takfiris not HA.
22 November 2013, 23:33
78
Your evidence proving HA involvement was "rockets fired a afar" Ha cute
23 November 2013, 01:06
72
it's raining thumbs 2nite!
Looks like the red thumb brigade is working hard. jajajaja wat a douche he/she is.
I hate extremists of all kinds.... i hate warmongers.... I hate Hizballa....
23 November 2013, 03:22
12
Again it shows that the problem with Lebanon is to many Lebanese.
23 November 2013, 03:25
46
The ones you mention and add to them HA and Iran ............ they all make us proud and the Nobel Prize should be shard between KSA and Iran.
23 November 2013, 03:28
43
Qaeda and HA are the same ...... two ugly facesand the shame of Islam
23 November 2013, 07:51
45
we have far more worst or equally bad groups like the irani khamena2i militia
23 November 2013, 08:15
34
What a Surprise, I have never expected the guy to be Lebanese, I though Khaliji,Syria,Palestinian,Afghani, bess akid mech Lebanese. WAW that will be the first Lebanese Suicide blower. What a shame, What a shame for us.
24 November 2013, 00:38
01
The first was to destroy the gate so the second one enters and blows the whole thing sky high.
One noble police officer attacked the jeep, trying to pull the driver out of the car. That's when he blew the car up taking the police officer as a shaheed. Had it been not for him dozens more would have died, god bless his sacrifice and tfeh on the misguided sons of Lebanon who resorted to fleeing home and blowing themselves up killing innocents.
