Army: Two people arrested for connections with Choueifat incident

The Lebanese Army announced Sunday that it had arrested two men involved in armed election-related clashes, occurred Tuesday may 12, 2018 in the Aley town of Choueifat, that left one man dead. The Army said that both Tarek Souki and Wael al-Banna were arrested Saturday in the Baalbeck town of Harbta. The arrests were made due “to [the suspects’] connection to the dispute that erupted in Choueifat and for [their connection] to those wanted [for the clashes] in a way or another.” Tarek Souki is believed to be the brother of Amine Souki, an official in the Lebanese Democratic Party who is a primary suspect in the killing of Alaa Abi Faraj, a supporter of the rival Progressive Socialist Party. Amine Souki is reported to have already left Lebanon for Syria. Tarek Souki and Banna were reportedly attempting to leave Lebanese territory for Syria at the time of their arrest.
According to the communiqué, Army units seized two pistol guns, several mobile phones, an expired weapons' license and a sum of money that were in the arrestees' possession. "Interrogation of both detainees is currently underway under the supervision of the concerned authorities," the communiqué concluded.