Security Headquarters Possible Terrorist Targets as Investigations Show Busted Networks Linked

The headquarters of several security agencies and army checkpoints were the target of terrorist plots as the ongoing investigations revealed that the recently busted terrorist networks are linked.

Security sources told al-Akhbar newspaper published on Wednesday that investigations with terrorist networks revealed that the Interior Ministry headquarters along with the General Security directorate and the Internal Security Forces directorate buildings were the target of terrorist operations.

The sources also said that army checkpoints and al-Saha restaurant near the Great Prophet Mosque in Beirut's southern suburbs were on the list of targets.

However, the newspaper said that Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq remains doubtful over such reports as more investigations should be carried out and further evidence collected.

According to As Safir newspaper, investigations showed that there are links between the recent security achievements.

The daily said that a French national originally from the Comoros islands in the Indian Ocean who had been arrested last month at the Napoleon Hotel in Beirut's Hamra area, Duroy Hotel suicide bombers in Raouche area and the Fnaideq terrorist cell are linked.

The newspaper reported that the three networks form one terrorist cell.

The army announced on Saturday that Alaa Kanaan and Mahmoud Khaled, members of a terrorist network who were recently apprehended during raids in Fnaideq, confessed to the existence of a cave in the region where they used to prepare explosives.

Also Thursday, the army raided another residence in Fnaideq, seizing a large cache of arms and military equipment.

On Wednesday, a Saudi suicide-bomber blew himself up at the Duroy Hotel when he detonated his explosives during a security raid. His accomplice, also a Saudi citizen, survived the blast and is being questioned.

The two suicide bombers allegedly wanted to target al-Saha Restaurant in Dahieh.

Security forces began recently enforcing strict measures and carrying out raids in several areas after obtaining information on a plot to target hospitals and high-ranking security officials.

Early Tuesday a suicide blast at the entrance of Beirut's southern suburbs, Hizbullah's main bastion, killed a security officer and wounded 20 others.

The bombing in Tayyouneh came three days after a suicide attack in eastern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded 30.

H.K.

G.K.