Informer over Tripoli Twin Bombings Says Sheikh Wanted to Target Prominent Figures
The main suspect in the twin bombing that rocked Tripoli last week was planning to target prominent figures in the northern city, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.
According to information obtained by the daily, a police informer, identified as Moustapha H., contacted Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau claiming that he has important information over a Sheikh from Tripoli who is planning to target al-Mustaqbal MP Khaled al-Daher, former ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Salafist cleric Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi.
Moustapha told the intelligence bureau that a Sheikh from al-Gharib family was collecting information regarding the three men, including their addresses, movement, the cars they use and the safety precautions they adopted.
“Gharib claimed that he wanted to assassinate Daher, Rifi and al-Rafehi,” the informer said according to the report.
He also told the intelligence bureau that several blasts will take place in Tripoli.
The two men were detained after the twin blasts in the city, the newspaper said.
The report continues that Gharib confessed during investigations that he is an acquaintance with Moustapha and thew had business in Syria.
However, the Sheikh said that Moustapha tricked him and stole his money.
He also said that Moustapha has ties with the Syrian intelligence.
“I have never mentioned Daher, Rifi and al-Rafehi,” Sheikh Ahmed Gharib said, pointing out that Moustapha was the one who talked about them.
Media reports said on Saturday that Gharib was detained over links to last week's blasts that hit two mosques in Tripoli.
According to the state-run National News Agency, a surveillance camera spotted Gharib in the area near the explosion that took place near al-Salam mosque.
Powerful car bombs exploded outside two Sunni mosques in Tripoli on Friday afternoon.
The first bomb struck in the city center at the al-Salam mosque as worshipers were still inside.
The second explosion struck just minutes later outside al-Taqwa mosque, about two kilometers away, near the port.
Caretaker premier Najib Miqati announced that the explosions killed 35 people and wounded 900 others, including 110 in a critical condition.
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