'Dangerous' Gang that Robbed Churches Arrested

The army has managed to arrest a gang it described as “dangerous” which was behind the robberies of many churches in several regions.

Army intelligence agents apprehended the members of “a dangerous gang that robbed items from many churches in several Lebanese regions,” the Army Command said in a communique on Wednesday.

The gang stole a number of religious icons and symbols and a quantity of jewelry and antiquities, the army revealed.

“The stolen items were confiscated while the detainees are being interrogated to identify the churches that were targeted,” the military added.

The Army Command called on those in charge of churches to “inform the nearest military post about the disappearance of any items belonging to their churches.”

It also asked them to try to identify the stolen items through browsing the army's official website.

Several churches were robbed in recent years, including the Church of the Hotel Dieu De France Hospital in Ashrafieh, the Church of the Cross in Nabaa, the St. Antonios Monastery in Zahle, the Our Lady of Good Aid Church in Fanar-Ain Saadeh, and the St. Taqla Church in Jal el-Dib among others.

Thieves usually target golden and silver crowns as well as communion cups and crosses.

Y.R.

M.T.