Would-Be Suicide-Bomber Seeking to Attack 'Shiite Target' Arrested in North

A potential suicide-bomber was arrested in the northern city of Tripoli last week as he was headed to Syria where he was set to prepare himself for carrying out a bombing against a Shiite target in Lebanon, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday.

Arrested by the General Security, Mohammed al-Aqla, 22, said he had joined the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front in Syria.

He was expected to meet up with the group, which would determine the target of his suicide-bombing in Lebanon.

The suspect confessed to belonging to the group and aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Palestinian suicide-bombers, Adnan al-Mohammed and Nidal al-Mougheer, who both hailed from al-Bisariyeh camp.

Mohammed had carried the bombing in front of the Iranian embassy in Beirut on November 19, 2013 and al-Mougheer had carried out the bombing in front of the Iranian Cultural Center on February 19, 2014.

Al-Aqla hails from the southern town of al-Bisariyeh in the al-Zahrani province.

His family fled the border town of Yarin in the wake of the Israeli invasion of 1978.

It relocated to al-Bisariyeh where he was raised it its Shiite environment, said al-Akhbar.

He was last seen in the area about three weeks ago and his family was informed of his disappearance about a week later.

He failed to complete his school education and worked in construction sites and gardening.

Recently, al-Aqla became closed off from those around him and he spent his time at prayer in the town mosque that is led by Sheikh Ahmed Abid of the al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.

His father, a retired army officer, is not affiliated with any political party, but his relatives are devout Muslims and known for their good ties with al-Jamaa al-Islamiya.

Al-Aqla's case was referred to intelligence directorate for further investigation.

A number of terror suspects have been arrested in recent months. A number of them have confessed to belonging to terrorist groups and of seeking to stage attacks against various targets in Lebanon, as well as its army.

M.T.

H.K.