Naharnet

Report: Saudi Delegation to Visit Beirut over Bomber's Identity

Saudi security officials are expected to visit Beirut to identify the suicide bomber who blew himself up at Duroy Hotel in Beirut's Raouche area on Wednesday, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported.

The newspaper quoted a Saudi security official as saying on Friday that the delegation would bring with it DNA samples to confirm the identity of the bomber.

Lebanese authorities said his name is Abdul Rahman Nasser al-Shenifi.

The bomber detonated his explosives at his hotel room during a raid by General Security officers on Wednesday evening, and died in the blast.

Another accomplice was wounded and was being questioned at his hospital bed. He is also a Saudi citizen identified as Ali Ibrahim al-Thwaini.

A Saudi official told Agence France Presse on Thursday that al-Shenifi, 20, was wanted by the interior ministry.

But Asharq al-Awsat's source denied that al-Thwaini was also wanted by the Saudi authorities.

Wednesday's suicide attack was the third 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.

The General Security agency on Thursday circulated the picture of a Lebanese man, al-Monzer Khaldoun al-Hasan, accused of providing the Duroy Hotel bombers with explosives.

Media reports have said they were plotting to target al-Saha Restaurant in Beirut's southern suburbs.

G.K.

H.K.


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