Palestinian brothers killed in Beirut
Lebanon, Local, 10/21/1997

Unidentified gunmen armed with silencer-equipped pistols shot and killed a relative of Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal on Monday and wounded his brother when the two stopped at a Beirut intersection.

Omar al-Banna, 39, died instantly from gunshots to the head.  His brother Nasereddine, 36,  was rushed to a hospital with six bullet wounds, police said. Nasseredine's 7-year-old daughter, who sat on the back seat, was not hurt. Nasereddine later died in the hospital, according to a Fox News report.

Police said the noon-time shooting was part of factional Palestinian fighting. They added that the two were Abu Nidal's grandnephews. Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the victims had visited Libya, where Abu Nidal is believed to have bases, about 10 months ago. The two had split from the party and come to live in the Sabra and Shatila camps, earning their living from selling groceries.

The two men had stopped their car at a traffic light at a busy Beirut intersection when two assailants approached the vehicle from both sides and opened fire.  Most motorists were aware of the shooting only after the victims failed to move their vehicle after the light changed.  

Abu Nidal's Fatah-Revolutionary Council is known for its attacks in December 1985 on airports in Rome and Vienna.  It also was accused of bombing a discotheque in Berlin in 1986, killing two U.S. servicemen.  

The group's ranks have been sharply depleted by internal fighting in recent years.

Previous Stories:
  Abu Nidal relative killed   (10/20/1997)
  Second man dies after ISF siege as media ignores ban   (9/24/1997)
  Campaign against drugs, alcohol   (9/23/1997)

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