Charbel Says 'Coincidence' Salvaged Lebanon as 'Terrorist Cell' Busted in Daraya

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has revealed that “coincidence” protected Lebanon after authorities busted a “terrorist cell” when a home made bomb accidentally went off.

“Coincidence is protecting Lebanon these days,” Charbel told As Safir newspaper published on Monday.

“Hadn't the bomb went off by mistake the worse could have happened,” he said.

“What happened in Daraya allowed the arrest of a terrorist cell that was plotting attacks in more than one area,” Charbel added.

Abdul Latif al-Dakhakhni, an Egyptian, was killed, and his brother Mohammed and a Syrian identified as Mohammed Hasan Masaoud were gravely injured in the Iqlim al-Kharroub town of Daraya on Sunday when the bomb they were preparing accidentally exploded.

The second Egyptian died on Monday in hospital while Masaoud is in critical condition after suffering burns all over his body.

The dead men are the sons of Daraya mosque Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Dakhakhni who is married to a Lebanese and has been living in the village for a long time.

A security source told As Safir that Abdul Latif al-Dakhakhni is a follower of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir who has gone into hiding over the deadly clashes between his supporters and the Lebanese army in the southern city of Sidon.

The source said the Sheikh is in custody. Investigators are questioning him over maps locating the targets of the bomb attacks that they were plotting and al-Nusra Front flags found in his residence.

The Imam, who had allegedly recruited fighters to go to Iraq, has denied any connection to Sunday's incident, the source added.