Geagea Says BLOM Blast Like Anti-March 14 Bombings if Culprits Not Unveiled

W460

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Sunday urged authorities to speed up the investigation into the bombing that targeted the headquarters of BLOM Bank in Beirut last week, noting that if the identity of the culprits remains under wraps it would be an indication that the attack was carried out by the same parties that killed March 14's leaders.

“We are still awaiting the outcome of the investigations into the blast that hit BLOM Bank and we must remind on this occasion that the perpetrators of all the previous bombings that were staged by takfiri groups have been identified,” said Geagea in a communique.

“Should the identity of those behind the BLOM blast be kept under wraps, it will be an indication that it is similar to the bombings that targeted March 14's leaders in the past ten years and this would be very dangerous,” Geagea warned.

“The government would then be obliged to address the issue and take the appropriate measures,” the LF chief added.

The March 14 forces have blamed the Syrian regime and Hizbullah for most of the assassinations and attempted murders that targeted March 14 figures between 2005 and 2013.

Several parties were quick to point the finger at Hizbullah over BLOM Bank's blast due to the fact that the attack coincided with a row between the party and the banking sector over the implementation of new anti-Hizbullah U.S. sanctions.

The explosion last Sunday blew out the entire glass facade of the headquarters of BLOM Bank, one of the country's largest, but only one person was lightly wounded.

BLOM bank has been criticized by some pro-Hizbullah politicians for taking a hard-line position after Lebanese banks began abiding by a U.S. law that sanctions doing business with the Iran-backed Lebanese group. Authorities say dozens of bank accounts related to Hizbullah's organizations have been closed in recent weeks.

Hizbullah has fiercely criticized the law and accused Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh of "yielding" to Washington's demands.

The crisis between Hizbullah and Salameh has however eased in recent days, according to media reports, after the governor ordered the reopening of several closed bank accounts.

Hizbullah has not commented on the blast and its secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is expected to address the issue in a June 24 speech.

Y.R.

Comments 2
Thumb marcus 19 June 2016, 15:39

the ally of your presidential nominee will unveil the culprits behind the bombing on june 24th. Be patient Hakim!

Thumb justin 19 June 2016, 15:51

he is being politically correct afraid not to upset aoun by not accusing hezbollah directly.