Killer of Army Sergeant in Jounieh Linked to Arms Trade

The Lebanese Army command said Monday that a suspect, who had shot dead a soldier in the town of Jounieh a day earlier, is involved in smuggling and has connections to arms traders.

Army Intelligence Sergeant Samson Antranikian was killed at dawn Sunday when the suspect, now identified as Hassan Hussein Orayyeb, opened fire on a patrol during a manhunt in Jounieh, north of Beirut.

Monday's communique said the investigation with Orayyeb, who hails from the southern town of Khiam, revealed that he uses several fake IDs, including that of a clergyman.

The Army described him as a smuggler of goods from and to Syria and said he has connections to foreign organizations and arms traders.

Several verdicts have also been issued against him in the past 5 years for threatening to use arms and opening fire on people, the communique added.