Asiri Says Duroy Suicide Bombers Might have Obtained Forged Passports
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri denounced on Thursday the terrorist operations that are targeting civilians, estimating that the cell busted at Hotel Duroy in Beirut's Raouche area might have been carrying forged passports.
“Terrorism has no religion or nationality,” Asiri said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
His remarks come a day after a Saudi man blew himself up in Hotel Duroy as General Security agents stormed his room, killing himself and wounding several others.
An accomplice of the suicide bomber who was also in the room survived the blast but was severely injured. A third person is on the run.
Asiri rejected to confirm the identity of the terrorists who were busted at Duroy Hotel, saying that they might be carrying forged passports.
The diplomat strongly condemned the attack, stressing that his country has been a staunch fighter against terrorism.
The ambassador didn't rule out the possibility that the two suicide bombers were planning to target the nearby Saudi embassy.
In remarks also published on Thursday in the Saudi newspaper Okaz, Asiri stressed that no Saudi nationals reside in the Duroy Hotel as most of the guests are Iraqis.
He said that he is following the matter with Lebanese authorities, expressing hope that the Lebanese authorities would be successful in ending the attacks.
The Saudi Embassy in Beirut later condemned Wednesday's terrorist attack, congratulating the Lebanese government on its “success in pursuing terrorist cells.”
It wished a speedy recovery to the wounded and hoped that stability will return to Lebanon.
Security forces began recently enforcing strict measures and carrying out raids in several areas after obtaining information on a plot to target hospitals and high-ranking security officials.
Early Tuesday a suicide blast in Beirut's southern suburbs, Hizbullah's main bastion, killed a security officer and wounded 20 others.
The bombing in Tayyouneh came three days after a suicide attack in eastern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded 30.
H.K.
G.K.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/136484 |