Security forces foil attack in Justice Palace

An assailant broke into the Beirut Criminal Court Thursday while a judicial session was underway, threatening to set off hand grenades. The man in question was Hasan Dirani, who had been pursued by the authorities for dealing drugs but later released, a judicial source told The Daily Star. Dirani entered the courtroom at noon while a session, headed by Judge Tarek Bitar, was underway, and initially slashed himself with a knife then took out two grenades and tried to set them off inside the room.  Security forces quickly arrived at the scene and prevented him from carrying out the attack before arresting him based on instructions from State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat. According to a judicial source, investigations with Dirani have begun in order to uncover his motives. Security forces tasked with guarding the Justice Palace in Beirut are also being investigated because Dirani was able to slip into the building with the grenades in his possession although vistors entering the building are searched and pass through scanners at the entrance.