Pastry shop blast pair charged

Two men were charged on August 25 with bombing a pastry shop in Baabda, while a serviceman arrested in connection with the same case was released, judicial sources in the town said.

Paul Francoi Iskandar Hakim and Georges Moubib Azouri reportedly detonated an explosive near the shop, which is owned by Naim Aridi, on the night of August 14. They were reportedly the owners of a rival business nearby.

Military investigating magistrate Rashid Mezber also charged the two with illegal trafficking in arms. He requested they be given long jail sentences with hard labor.

Adj Assad Ghannam, who had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the bombing, was released because of a lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the magistrate also questioned a man suspected of collaborating with Israel.

He gave the suspect, Charle Tanios Karam, an undisclosed deadline to appoint a lawyer before being officially charged.