One of Qabbani’s Bodyguards Killed by Friendly Fire, Civilian Injured

A bodyguard of Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani was killed in a friendly fire and another civilian was injured in the Beirut neighborhood of Aisha Bakkar.

Policeman Youssef Shbaqlo was killed and Mohammed al-Rassem was wounded when several shots were fired from the bodyguard’s gun as he was putting his weapon at a depot.

A communiqué released by the Internal Security Forces General-Directorate said the incident took place at 10:30 am after the Mufti’s motorcade returned to his home in Aisha Bakkar.

The shots were fired when the bodyguard was handing over the gun to his chief, the communiqué added.

Al-Rassem was mildly wounded in his foot and was taken to the American University of Beirut.