Mashnouq: Lebanon Helped Foil Terror Plot to Bomb Emirati Plane in Australia

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq announced on Monday that the ISF Intelligence Branch, in collaboration with Australian authorities, have foiled a terror plot to blow up an Emirati airplane in Australia bound for Abu Dhabi.

“The ISF has foiled an attempt of a Lebanese suicide bomber, who hails from al-Khayyat family, to blow up an Emirates Airplane in Australia that was bound for Abu Dhabi,” announced Mashnouq in a press conference.

He said the plane was carrying 120 Lebanese passengers out of 400 on board.

Mashnuq pointed out that the would-be suicide attacker was identified as Lebanese Tarek Khayyat and hails from north Lebanon.

“They are four Lebanese brothers, one of them moved to Syria's Reqqa and is a senior Islamic State group member,” he said, pointing out that the "Intelligence Branch has tracked him down."

Mashnouq said the bomb was discovered “as the result of an overweight suitcase which was destined to blow up 20 minutes after the Emirati plane takes off.”

“It was a message to the UAE,” added Mashnouq, as he highlighted coordination between Lebanese and Australian authorities.

Mashnouq did not disclose the exact date of the operation or its relation to a similar incident late in July in Australia.

Australian authorities have said they thwarted a credible terrorist plot to down an airplane by smuggling a device onboard. They have provided few details, including the precise nature of the threat or any airlines involved.