Naharnet

Intelligence Bureau Raids Hotels Near Duroy Attack Site

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau raided on Thursday hotels near Duroy Hotel a day after a suicide bomber blew himself up at his room while his accomplice survived the blast.

According to media reports, the Intelligence Bureau raided Ramada Plaza, previously known as As Safir Heliopolitan Hotel, which is across the Duroy Hotel, in search for suspects.

Security sources told LBCI that the raids are a routine measure carried out by the Intelligence Bureau to inspect the identities of the hotel guests.

Al-Jadeed television reported that two people from Arab nationalities were detained during the operation in Ramada Plaza.

The suicide bomber and his accomplice are allegedly Saudi citizens.

The bomber detonated his explosives during a security raid on Wednesday evening, and died in the blast. Another man was wounded and was being questioned by security agents at a Beirut hospital.

A third person is on the run.

The two attackers entered Lebanon with Saudi passports on June 11.

It was the third suicide bombing in Lebanon in less than a week and sparked fears of renewed violence in a country that has been deeply affected by the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Security forces began recently enforcing strict measures and carrying out raids in several areas after obtaining information on a plot to target hospitals and high-ranking security officials.

Early Tuesday a suicide blast in Beirut's southern suburbs, Hizbullah's main bastion, killed a security officer and wounded 20 others.

The bombing in Tayyouneh came three days after a suicide attack in eastern Lebanon that killed one person and wounded 30.

H.K.

G.K.


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