Berri Says Provided Palestinian Leaders with Names of Assassination Plotters

Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday revealed that he has provided Palestinian leaders with the names of a group plotting to assassinate him, noting that they are “experienced individuals.”

In an interview on al-Manar television, Berri added that he had summoned top Palestinian leader Azzam al-Ahmed, member of Fatah’s Central Committee, to brief him on the available information, which were reported by “three sources.”

Berri confirmed during a parliamentary meeting on May 16 a list of politicians and figures allegedly targeted by extremist groups, describing the threat as serious and dangerous.

According to NBN television, Berri called on security agencies to investigate the threat.

Local newspapers have reported that certain world powers had warned Lebanese officials that a terrorist group linked to an extremist organization has infiltrated the country recently to carry out “subversive” operations.

According to As Safir newspaper, the information coincided with similar data obtained by Lebanese security agencies.

Berri and several other senior Lebanese officials might be the target of a security threat by the terrorist group.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea escaped an assassination attempt on April 4.

In January, security agencies urged Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat to take precautions as they might be the target of an assassination plot.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper has reported that the security agencies succeeded in the past few days in uncovering a terrorist network with local, Arab, and European links.

During the al-Manar interview, Berri said “no one accepts the presence of these groups in (Palestinian refugee) camps,” warning that “this issue might push the country into the unknown.”

Berri noted that “al-Ahmed recognized the names of the suspects except for one name,” stressing that “the responsibility to deter such attempts falls on the Palestinians themselves.”