Army Arrests Gang that Kidnaps Syrians as Meqdad's Brother Criticizes 'Terrifying Raid'
The Lebanese army command said Sunday that the military arrested a six-member gang that kidnaps Syrian opposition members in northern Lebanon.
An army unit arrested three of the members at the area of al-Bahsas in the city of Tripoli while they were abducting a Syrian opposition activist, an army communique said.
Following a thorough investigation, the military arrested the network's three other members, it said.
The communique added “this step comes as part of a comprehensive security plan that the army leadership had announced and includes following up all security cases.”
The army's announcement came the same day Hatem al-Meqdad said he wanted to "thank" the president and army chief on a “terrifying raid” on the house of his brother Hassan who was kidnapped in Damascus last month.
In remarks to LBCI TV station, Hatem said Lebanese army members wearing masks raided on Saturday night the house of Hassan where his wife and 8-year-old daughter live.
He ridiculed President Michel Suleiman and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji by saying he wanted to thank them on the “terrifying raid.”
The army announced on Saturday that it confiscated a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives and military equipment hidden in a vehicle in the Rweiss neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburb.
“The army will continue its raids until the owner of the car and his accomplices are detained,” it said in a statement.
The army confirmed on Friday reports that it arrested several people in Rweiss following a string of kidnappings of Syrian nationals and a Turkish businessman by members of al-Meqdad clan in retaliation to the seizure of Hassan al-Meqdad.
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