Judge Orders Release of Abra Suspect as Army Detains Asir Supporter

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The army intelligence apprehended on Tuesday a suspect linked to Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and four others as a judge ordered the release of a detainee linked to the controversial radical preacher.

The state-run National News Agency reported that deputy Military Prosecutor Judge Dani al-Zani ordered the release of Salah Ghassan al-Aqqad, who is linked to al-Asir, from Jezzine prison.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) also said that the army intelligence detained Hisham al-Danab, who is linked to al-Asir, and three Lebanese and a Syrian on charges of forming a terrorist cell in the southern city of Sidon.

The 45-year-old cleric, who supports the overwhelmingly Sunni rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, had gone into hiding following deadly clashes between his supporters and the army near Sidon in June last year.

Sidon’s clashes were the most intense bouts of violence in Lebanon linked to the conflict in Syria, and have resulted in the death of at least 16 troops.

The gunbattles concentrated in the area of the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque, where Asir was a preacher, and nearby buildings in Abra.

Judicial authorities have issued a detention order for Asir and 71 of his supporters, including Singer turned fugitive Islamist Fadel Shaker.

Last week, the trial of Abra suspects ended in a fistfight between one of the detainees and the Internal Security Forces after the military court postponed the trial to December 2.

The suspects could face the death penalty if convicted.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 0