Lebanon discloses first network for al-Qaida organization on its land
Lebanon, Local, 9/23/2004

Lebanon has disclosed for the first time that there is a network for al-Qaida organization led by Osama Bin laden on its land linked to similar networks in Arab and European countries. This came following information from Italy on an operation targeting its embassy in Beirut.

The Lebanese minister of the interior Elias al-Murr explained yesterday that the chairman of the organization and some of its members involved "in the blowing up of the Italian embassy in Beirut were arrested." He announced in a press conference the arresting of the Lebanese Ismael Muhammad al-Khatib in the western Bekaa area. He is the "chairman of a network that affiliates to al-Qaida organization." Al-Murr indicated that this network is linked to similar ones in Arab and European states and so far several have been discovered in Italy, Ukraine, Denmark and Italy in addition of Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

He explained that the role of this network, which he gave no definite name, is to recruit youths to carry out operations against the occupation forces in Iraq." This was explained in a press conference dedicated by the minister to announce "details permitted by investigations" with 10 members detained during search operations which started from Saturday when the Lebanese security sides received information from Italy on a likely attack against its embassy in Beirut. Al-Murr indicated that most of the detainees are Lebanese in addition to some Palestinians including one woman.

Later, scores of Islamists were arrested while others resorted to Ein al-Helweh camp near Sidon, the largest city in south Lebanon where groups of Palestinians exist, especially "Osbet al-Ansar" which was listed by Washington among terrorist organizations.

On the other hand, al-Murr stressed "the seized explosives were dedicated to blow up the Italian embassy in addition to monitoring documents for the building of the embassy" that is located in the downtown of Beirut trade center and missiles and RPG shelling buried in Majdal Anjar in the western Bekaa.

Preliminary investigations said that the blowing up operations planned for were not limited to the Italian embassy, rather targeting also the Ukraine embassy in al-Hazemeyah ( east Beirut) and also targeting Lebanese centers including the justice palace, the general directorate for internal security and the judicial police center as well as assassinating persons working in foreign embassies.

The Lebanese minister confirmed that the Syrian security forces took part in the process of disclosing the network. An operation which lasted only for four days.

Previous Stories:
  Terrorists planned to blow up the Italian embassy in Beirut   (9/22/2004)
  Three are killed, others wounded in Ein al-Helweh camp in Lebanon   (8/30/2004)
  An explosion in Ein al-Helweh   (7/26/2004)

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