Two Held for Opening Fire on ISF Checkpoint in Corniche al-Mazraa
An exchange of gunfire erupted on Friday between two gunmen and members of an Internal Security Forces checkpoint in the Beirut district of Corniche al-Mazraa, state-run National News Agency reported.
“An ISF checkpoint was stopping cars violating the ban on tinted-glass windows when it asked a violating driver to pull over and started removing the illegal tinting. Another tinted-glass car arrived on the scene and its passengers tried to voice objection before two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on the checkpoint's members,” NNA said.
“The checkpoint's members returned fire, wounding Mohammed Ali Abdullah Qameh in his leg while his companion was arrested,” the agency added.
Qameh was rushed to hospital, NNA said, adding that the ISF seized the car that sparked the incident. The passengers of the second car, however, managed to flee the scene.
Al-Jadeed television said the first car was driven by a woman and that she had telephoned the two men who arrived on the motorcycle.
It quoted a security source as saying that “the shooter belongs to a political party and has a criminal record.”
Jaras Scoop FM radio reported earlier that “head of the Mousaitbeh office of AMAL Movement Talal Qameh was hurt in an exchange of gunfire between members of AMAL and the ISF in Corniche al-Mazraa,” adding that “he was rushed to hospital amid tension in the area and an armed deployment by AMAL members.”
But Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said Qameh has a criminal record, noting that he had opened fire on the al-Helou ISF barracks in Beirut's Mar Elias in the past.
“High-level contacts are underway to prevent any repercussions,” the radio station added.
Later on Friday, a security source told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that an armed group tried to storm Beirut Hospital to liberate Qameh.
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