Army arrests man who opened fire during Sarafand attack

The army announced Wednesday the arrest of an Amal Movement supporter who had opened fire Saturday from a handgun during a violent protest against a rival electoral rally in the southern city of Sarafand.

“A patrol from the Intelligence Patrol has arrested in the Sidon town of Sarafand the citizen A. Kh. for opening fire in the air in the aforementioned town during a protest by a number of the town’s residents against the announcement of an electoral list,” an army statement said.

“The detainee is being interrogated under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities,” the statement added.

An online video shows the man opening fire from a handgun towards a candidate and his vehicle despite the presence of army troops. Another video shows around ten men beating up a young man.

The altercation started when the Amal supporters blocked a road leading to the al-Wadi Restaurant in Sarafand, where a rally to announce the program of the "Together For Change" electoral list was supposed to be held.

The list is backed by the Lebanese Communist Party, independents and members of the Tyre Protest Movement.

Amal's press office had issued a statement denying any involvement for the Amal Movement in the incidents.

The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) meanwhile warned that the incident represents a "serious threat to the safety of candidates, citizens and journalists and subjects the entire course of the electoral process to danger."