Phones, Sharp Objects Seized, Officers Held in Probe into Escape of Fatah al-Islam Inmates
Security forces on Sunday raided Ward B in Roumieh prison, where Fatah al-Islam inmates are jailed, seizing prohibited items, including cellphones and sharp objects, media reports said.
The raid did not involve any violence, according to LBCI television.
Investigations are ongoing to determine how three Fatah al-Islam inmates managed to escape from Roumieh prison about a month ago, reported An Nahar daily on Sunday.
Information obtained by the daily indicated that it is likely that the prisoners used fake identification cards to exit the prison through its main entrance.
It said that there was no evidence that implies that they fled through other means seeing as no ropes or broken glass were found anywhere near their cells.
Investigations are also determining whether their escape was facilitated by other individuals within the prison.
Several security officers in charge of the block where the escapees were held have been interrogated, added An Nahar.
Investigations will continue with other security officials on Sunday.
At least ten security guards at Roumieh prison were arrested on Saturday as investigations are ongoing over how the three Fatah al-Islam inmates managed to escape from the largest prison facility in the country.
According to MTV, State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr ordered the detention of 11 guards at the prison.
Later on Sunday, media reports said Saqr ordered the detention of Roumieh prison commanding officer Major Ahmed Abou Daher and Lieutenant Abdul Hafiz Fawwaz.
The three Fatah al-Islam inmates – a Palestinian, a Syrian and an Algerian – managed to escape from Roumieh prison around a month ago, media reports said on Friday.
In a major prison break from Roumieh, five Fatah al-Islam inmates managed to escape on August 13, 2011.
Roumieh, the oldest and largest of Lebanon's overcrowded prisons, has witnessed sporadic prison breaks in recent years and escalating riots over the past months as inmates living in poor conditions demand better treatment.
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