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.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/177158 |