Army Denies Divulging Info on Probe into Shatah Murder

The Lebanese army denied on Saturday that it had disclosed any information over the investigation into the car bomb attack that killed ex-Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah.

“The military command categorically denies that it had divulged any information on the ongoing investigation into the assassination of former Minister Mohammed Shatah,” it said in a communique.

The army leadership hoped the media would be careful in disseminating information on the probe which it said is “confidential.”

Shatah, 62, was killed in a car bombing in downtown Beirut on Friday morning as he headed to a meeting of the March 14 coalition at the Center House.

The Honda CRV that blew up was rigged with up to 60 kilograms of explosives, and parked along Shatah's route. The blast struck the former minister's SUV, killing him, his driver and five others.

Scores of people were injured in the bombing, mainly from flying glass in nearby office buildings and hotels.

The army communique came after a report that the Honda used in the bombing was stolen in early 2013 from the coastal town of Rmeileh in the Shouf district and then taken to the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in the southern city of Sidon.

LBCI TV said Saturday that investigators are trying to find out whether the vehicle was kept at the camp or was sold.

Meanwhile, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr said that the bodies of the victims of Friday's blast will be handed over to their families.