Naharnet

Army Continues Taking Precautionary Measures in Beirut to Avert Bomb Attacks

The Army Command announced on Friday that it is continuing its precautionary measures in and around Beirut and throughout Lebanon in order to combat the threat of bomb attacks that had recently plagued the country.

It said in a statement that it will deploy patrols and checkpoints and set up surveillance stations in Beirut.

The same measures will later be implemented throughout Lebanon.

The Beirut measures include the distribution of identity cards for vehicle owners by various city mayors.

Private security companies tasked with protecting malls have been granted permission to inspect vehicles parked in the commercial facility.

Coordination has been ongoing with clergymen and concerned committees at places of worship to prevent people from parking their cars near these areas, especially on Fridays and Sundays, added the army statement.

In addition, the army called on the people to cooperate with the Internal Security Forces and Beirut municipal police to prevent people from parking their cars in illegal spots.

The people are also advised to keep a vigilant eye open to any suspicious activity and report it to the concerned authorities.

In August, the Beirut Municipality decided to install CCTV security cameras across the capital due to the "extraordinary" security situation and to stage joint patrols with the Internal Security Forces.

The measures come in the wake of twin bombings that targeted the al-Salam and al-Taqwa mosques in the northern city of Tripoli on August 23 and which left 45 people dead and more than 800 injured.

The bomb attacks followed two blasts that rocked Beirut's southern suburbs, the last of which was the August 15 Ruwais bombing, which left 27 people dead and more than 280 wounded.

The series of bombings sparked panic across the country, with citizens reporting the presence of suspicious cars in their neighborhoods everyday.


Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. https://naharnet.com/stories/en/98993