Notorious Roumieh Prison's Block B Under Control of Security Forces

Security forces on Monday took full control of Roumieh prison's block B after storming the overcrowded facility and seizing illegal items from Islamist prisoners, with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq describing the operation as a “victory for the state.”

Media reports said that prisoners at block B were all transferred to block D.

There are around 190 Fatah al-Islam prisoners at the notorious prison's block B, which is known as a virtual no-go zone for security forces, where prisoners have access to laptops, phones and money.

“After a 9-hour professional operation, we achieved a new victory for the state and moderation. This victory has ended a 'myth called Roumieh prison',” Mashnouq announced from the prison after the security crackdown.

“When there is a political will, the security forces and the army can act in a heroic way and they would execute all the orders,” he added.

Mashnouq called for the construction of a “new prison” with “appropriate” conditions, noting that the “bigger part” of the deadly bomb attack that targeted Tripoli's Jabal Mohsen was “coordinated from block B.”

“I have said that Daesh (Islamic State) was behind the Jabal Mohsen attack and I'm not convinced of al-Nusra Front's claim of responsibility,” the minister added.

“The 'operations room' that coordinated terrorist acts from the prison has ceased to exist due to this effort and we chose to carry out a competent operation without any bloodshed,” Mashnouq reassured.

He said that “this proves once again that our security forces and army are capable of protecting the state and the political decision.”

Responding to reporters' questions, Mashnouq stressed that security forces “did not harm anyone in the security operation.”

“We only moved them from one building to another and put an end to the communication activity that was contributing to terrorism,” he pointed out.

“There are no more communication devices or anything that existed in the past and the Islamist label does not mean that they can violate the law,” the minister added.

He also noted that he received phone calls from Muslim clerics and scholars, “who voiced support for the operation seeing as it would put an end to the violation of law.”

“Block B will be renovated within 3 months to become an appropriate facility that respects humanitarian conditions,” Mashnouq revealed.

Asked about the security threats, the minister underlined that “the fight against terrorism does not need a decision and all the Lebanese are confronting terrorism.”

“There is nothing new in this regard and we'll continue the security plan and arrest the fugitives,” he added.

The Internal Security Forces had said earlier in a communique that a “search operation is being carried out at the facility, including in block B.”

“When guards began transferring a number of prisoners from block B to D, inmates started riots and burned mattresses to protest the security measures,” the statement pointed out.

However, the ISF stressed that no injuries were recorded and the situation was under control.

Mashnouq said that the implementation of the security plan at Roumieh began after investigations showed that some inmates are linked to security acts in Lebanon.

“The operation began after intercepting phone calls between a group of inmates at Roumieh and members of the Islamic State concerning the attack on Jabal Mohsen.”

Two suicide bombers who hail from Tripoli carried out Saturday's attack on a packed cafe in Jabal Mohsen, a Lebanese district that is largely loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Security forces carried out on Monday morning strict security measures near the prison as army helicopters hovered over the facility as they prepared to storm the facility.

Flames and black smoke billowed from one of the facility's buildings, TV footage showed.

The operation was carried out by the ISF's special panthers unit.

The Islamist inmates were arrested in 2007 on charges of fighting or aiding the Fatah al-Islam fighters in the Palestinian Refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared that lies near the northern coastal city of Tripoli.

Meanwhile, al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front threatened via its account on Twitter that “due to the deterioration of the security situation in Lebanon you will hear of surprises concerning the fate of the prisoners of war who are in our captivity.”

The group pointed out that “the government's inconsiderate act is provocative,” wondering if it “aims at compelling us to begin executing the servicemen.”

It addressed the families of abducted soldiers and policemen, asking if the group “is being demanded to execute their sons.”

“Don't blame us if we change our approach towards the servicemen.”

The policemen and soldiers were abducted by the Islamist gunmen in the wake of battles in Arsal in August.

A few of them have since been released, four were executed, while the rest are still being held.

The hostage-takers had warned several times the Lebanese authorities that they would kill more captives if they did not meet their demands.

Among their demands is the release of Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.

Negotiations with al-Nusra Front and the IS group became discrete after the government urged the families to remain mum about the mediation in the case to ensure the release of their sons.

Several people briefly blocked the Abou Ali roundabout in the northern city of Tripoli to protest the security operation at Roumieh prison.

The residents of the northern Akkar town of Bhannine shortly blocked the road in solidarity with the Islamist inmates.

Other areas in Tripoli and the southern city of Sidon witnessed protests to denounce the operation.

Media reports later pointed out that the army deployed heavily near prison facilities in Lebanon, in particular near Tripoli's al-Qobbeh prison.

H.K./Y.R.