LBN25012

The Internal Security Forces General Directorate issued a statement on Saturday detailing the capture of a human-trafficking gang comprised of three individuals in Chtoura, following intensified investigations and monitoring missions.
Information started pouring in this week to the ISF branch in Bekaa about a gang of three people convincing two Syrian women along with their two infants that they could get them legally into Lebanon. The traffickers then started blackmailing them directly and through contact with the women's spouses, demanding $800 (USD).
The gang was lured by the ISF into Chtoura square, where they were arrested and handed over to the police for further investigations. The two women and their babies were released.

http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/56010/ISF-arrests-human-trafficking-g...

A bomb exploded on Monday before noon in Chtaura behind the Customs Building planted on the side of the road. It was said that the bomb was most likely to target a bus passengers, NNA field reporter said.

It is worth to note that no casualties were reported. http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/50620/UPDATED-Bomb-explodes-in-Chtaura

One man was killed and 15 others were wounded in a car accident in east Lebanon overnight Sunday, the state-run National News Agency reported.

A 46-year old Lebanese man was killed when his ATV swerved off the left lane of a Zahle highway at 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

As the Lebanese Red Cross worked on pulling the man’s body from the wrecked vehicle, another car crashed into the scene of the accident and wounded at least three medics.

The second vehicle was carrying a man identified as Hasan Ahmad Nasif, his wife Feryal and their 12-year old son Mohammad.

All three were injured in the crash.
According to NNA, a total of 15 people were wounded as a result of the accident.
In the past 24 hours, three people died and 17 others were wounded in seven separate car accidents in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Traffic Management Center.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Jun-28/304150-one-kil...

On 29 Mar 15, in Chtoura, Internal Security Forces (ISF) arrested a Lebanese national for committing murder.

http://mtv.com.lb/News/461905

Lebanese citizen, Elie Aoun, has been abducted in Chtoura by a group of anonymous men near Audi Bank, NNA field reporter said on Tuesday.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/40931/Citizen-abducted-in-Chtoura

Four anonymous gunmen, driving a black Grand Cherokee with tinted glass, intercepted a car on the highway of Taibeh village in Baalbeck and kidnapped citizen Ayman Sawwan. The abductors left Ayman's brother, Khaled, at large, and stole cell phones that were inside his car.

Higher Relief Committee Secretary General, Mohammed Khair, said in the wake of the extraordinary security meeting at the Grand Serail, that agreement was made on tightening security measures to detect any sabotage schemes.

The extraordinary security meeting called forth by Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, tackled the development of security situation and the latest with regards to the investigations into Dahr El Baydar's explosion.

Conferees also took up the security measures undertaken by the security services to counter the schemes concocted by the terrorist cells to destabilize security.

General Khair quoted Premier Salam as saying that "Dahr El Baydar's terrorist act aims at shaking stability," expressing satisfaction with the measures undertaken by the security services in this regard.

Salam asked of the security services' chiefs to maintain maximum level of vigilance and coordination amongst themselves to foil schemes of those who are seeking to tamper with the country's security and protect the state and its institutions.

"What happened today should be an incentive for the political forces to activate the work of the constitutional institutions to immune the country in the face of all dangers," the General quoted Salam as saying.

The Premier also called on the Lebanese to remain vigilant and to avoid yielding to rumors and groundless fears.

Conferees also underlined that the implementation of the security plan is ongoing.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28635/Khair-after-security-meetin...

Army Commander, General Jean Qahwaji, assured upon emerging out of the Serail meeting that "the security situation is composed and security measures are ongoing."

"Security forces are carrying out their work," General Qahwaji stressed, considering that there is exaggeration in today's events.

"We are keeping watchful eyes..." the General said.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28631/Qahwaji-upon-emerging-out-o...

The Internal Security Forces Public Relations Division circulated, upon the request of the government commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr, the sketch of the suicide bomber who blew himself up at a checkpoint in Dahr al-Baydar.

Citizens who have any information about the bomber are asked to call the hotline of the Information Branch 1788 or 01/425277 or send an e-mail to the following address (intelligence@isfid.gov.lb).

It is to note that the identity of any citizen who provides information for the ISF will remain secret.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28629/Security-forces-circulate-s...

Deputy President of the Islamic Shiite Supreme Council, Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan, on Friday condemned the cruel attempt to assassinate General Security senior Brigadier Abbas Ibrahim, saying that such attempt bears dangerous indications of the presence of a terrorist plan against Lebanon's sovereignty and security.

He thereby called upon all Lebanese to stand beside the Lebanese military and security forces and boost adherence to them amidst the current critical challenges.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28626/Sheikh-Qabalan-attempt-for-...

Head of Future Bloc, MP Foad Siniora, denounced in a statement on Friday the terrorist attack on an ISF Dahr el-Baydar checkpoint and confirmed that one of the main ways of safeguarding the country against these terrorist groups is by keeping out of regional problems so that the "gates of hell do not open onto Lebanon."

He called upon all Lebanese to form a united front to halt the ramifications of regional turmoil from affecting Lebanon.

"Wisdom requires that we guard [ourselves] from the evils of events around us by not intervening in them, because our country is incapable of tolerating their consequences and repercussions. Thus, those who have plunged into that swamp must stop immediately and back off from implicating Lebanon and the rest of the Lebanese with them. For every day that passes without any initiative to stop this involvement carries with it further complications and risks."

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28621/Siniora-wants-to-keep-Leban...

Justice Minister, Ashraf Rifi, on Friday condemned and deplored the terrorist blast that jolted today Dahr Al-Baydar region, calling for controling the Lebanese borders and implementing international resolutions in this concern and hasting to elect a new president for Lebanon.

"The demand for controling borders in both directions has become a dire necessity as it is no more accepted to stay silent at the chaos of channels on the borders," said Rifi, who urged thereby the necessity of implementing international resolutions "which help the Lebanese state safeguard the Lebanese borders and security."

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28619/Rifi-for-controling-borders...

ISF member martyred in Dahr Baydar explosion

NNA - The Public Relations Department at the Internal Security Forces (ISF) General Directorate issued on Friday the following statement:

"On the morning of June 20, 2014, certain information was made available about a terrorist group planning bombing operations in Beirut and other regions in Lebanon. Consequently, a joint task force from the Information Branch and the Directorate General of General Security raided a hotel in Hamra region for suspicion that numerous dangerous individuals were residing in it. Following a thorough check of the identities of the guests, seventeen individuals of various nationalities were detained and taken to the Information Branch of the ISF for further investigation into their legal status in the country.

Simultaneously, the ISF took strict measures all over Lebanese territories. Within this framework, reports came in at 11.15 a.m. of a suspicious dark gray Nissan Murano SUV driving along the internal road of Sawfar heading to Bhamdoun. A patrol attempted to stop said car but the driver fled and turned back towards Bekaa. Immediately the patrol notified the Dahr el Baydar checkpoint of the description of the car. Once the Nissan reached the checkpoint, the driver was asked to step out of the car. At that point, the driver detonated the booby-trapped car killing ISF member Mahmoud Jamaleddine and injuring thirty-three others, seven of whom were ISF members.

Investigation is underway under specialized judiciary to uncover further details behind the terrorist attack."

Kataeb Party expressed great sorrow for the return of the episode of explosions and the targeting of civilians jeopardizing internal stability, considering Dahr El Baydar's blast and the arrest of a number of persons as "a dangerous message to slot Lebanon into the game of death currently rattling Iraq and Syria."

"These incidents necessitate utmost national solidarity and maximum political promptness through putting aside narrow calculations and swiftly commence with the election of the President of the Republic," Kataeb said in a statement on Friday.

The Party also stressed the stringent need for maximum degrees of preventive security in a bid to nip these plots in the bud.

The Phalange Party also offered sincere condolences to the families of the fallen victims, and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery.

"We wish that Lebanon tread the path of salvation from the malicious designs targetting it," statement concluded.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28611/Kataeb-Dahr-Baydar-39-blast...

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly strongly condemned today's suicide bombing at an Internal Security Forces checkpoint in Dahr El-Baidar. He telephoned the Director of the Internal Security Forces Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous to express his sympathy following the death of a member of the ISF, as well as the casualties which occurred in the incident. He also telephoned the head of General Security, Maj. Gen. Abbas Brahim.

The Special Coordinator noted the increased security measures in parts of the country and stressed the importance of the work that the army and security forces were carrying out to sustain the calm that has prevailed in Lebanon recently. He underlined the United Nations' solidarity with Lebanon's Government and people in standing up to the threat of terrorism.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28607/Plumbly-condemns-bombing-at...

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday called on all Lebanese, irrespective of their confessions and political affiliations, to adopt the highest degree of alert and caution, and resort to awareness and national solidarity, in the face of the wicked plans plotted for Lebanon and the region, that aim to ignite discord among brothers of the same religion and the same country.

Hariri denounced, in a statement today, the terrorist attack that targeted a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces in the Dahr al-Baydar, and said it was part of a series aiming to threaten the stability and safety of the Lebanese and to drag the country into the destructive path that prevails in many states in the Arab world.

He said: "This should be a time where we resort to awareness and to the values of unity and cooperation and rejection of discord, and not a time for sparking sectarian feud and mobilizing the youth to send them to internal or external battles that will only lead to more divisions and sectarian reactions."

After paying tribute to the souls of the martyrs who fell today and wishing the wounded a prompt recovery, he saluted the Internal Security Forces command, the Information Branch and all the security and military forces that are assuming great responsibility at this phase. He called for solidarity with these forces and helping them by all available means to play their role in protecting Lebanon and ensuring security and stability to all the Lebanese.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28605/Hariri-condemns-Dahr-elBayd...

MP Kassem Hashem, from the Bloc of Development and Liberation, on Friday called upon Lebanese to expand the area of understanding and consensus over all due dates in order to face and defeat the terrorist attack set against the country.

Hashem deplored and condemned the cruel blast which was set in Dahr Al-Baydar today "to assassinate General Security Director, Brigadier Abbas Ibrahim, the national symbol that plays a big national role in the country."

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28599/Hashem-for-Lebanese-to-enha...

Lawmaker Assaad Hardan sternly condemned in a statement on Friday the suicide bombing at an Internal Security Forces checkpoint in Dahr al-Baydar "as General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim was passing by," which claimed the life of one and wounded more than 30.

"This terrorist blast targets the national security in general and comes at a very critical time, not just in Lebanon, but also in the entire region," Head of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party said.

"It is necessary that Syria and Lebanon coordinate and cooperate in order to fight and uproot terrorism," he suggested.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28597/Hardan-lambasts-Dahr-al-Bay...

NNA field reporter in Bekaa said on Friday that the cruel explosion that hit today the Bekaa region of Dahr Al-Baydar killed the Internal Security Forces warrant officer Mahmoud Jamaleddine and caused the injury of 34 persons. The explosion was set by a silver colored Murano car, and it harmed 7 cars in the region.

The Government's Commissioner at the Military Court, Judge Sakr Sakr, arrived at Dahr Al-Baidar blast scene, and said that the bomb which earlier rocked the region weighed 30 KGs.

"The explosion was caused by a suicide bomber and we await the outcome of forensic evidence and military experts' investigations," Sakr said.

However, Sakr refused to discuss whether the Major General Abbas Ibrahim was the main target of this blast before the end of investigations.

Later on, it was revealed that the exploded car was a silver-colored Nissan car and that the number of the wounded was 34 while the dead was one.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28583/Sakr-from-blast-scene-says-...

Head of the Lebanese Democratic Party MP Talal Arslan denounced on Friday the terrorist bombing that targeted an ISF checkpoint in Dahr al-Baydar and said "today the blood of Internal Security Forces elements were mixed with the blood of army martyrs who were killed in similar attacks in defense of Lebanon's security and stability, out of keenness by all political and social classes on fighting terrorism in our region."

Arslan called on everyone "to stand by the Interior Ministry and give it room to carry out its functions through its security services which demonstrate, every day, high efficiency in thwarting terrorist cells, the latest of which was detected and raided in Hamra locality."

The ISF asked on Friday noon the citizens not to take Daher Baidar road due to the blast which rocked said area until the investigations are over.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28569/ISF-asks-citizens-not-to-ta...

The Lebanese Red Cross issued a report saying that two martyrs and eighteen wounded was the preliminary outcome of the blast that rocked Dahr Al-Baydar region a while ago.

Relief works are underway, the Red Cross report said.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28567/Red-Cross-martyrs-18-injure...

The Red Cross Head of Operations George Kattaneh announced on Friday that over 25 people were injured in the car bomb explosion that rocked Dahr Al-Baydar, next to an ISF checkpoint.

Kattaneh said the blast location is being scanned and asked the citizens to stay away from the targeted area in order to allow the transfer of injured persons to hospitals.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/28563/Red-Cross-Over-25-injured-i...