3 Charged with Belonging to Armed Terrorist Group, Preparing Attacks in Beirut

Three people from the Palestinian Ain el-Hilweh camp were charged on Thursday with belonging to an armed terrorist organization and of planning attacks in Beirut.

According to the state-run National News Agency, Judge Danny Zaenni also charged Lebanese Ghassan S., Ahmed B, and Ali H. with preparing bombs in Ain el-Hilweh to move them to other areas across Beirut.

The three men were referred to the Military investigating Judge.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji confirmed on Wednesday the discovery “of a terrorist cell in Lebanon aimed at creating strife and carrying out attacks in the country.”

The security forces, in cooperation with political authorities, are exerting efforts to apprehend the members of the cell, he stated.

On Saturday, a car filled with 250 kilograms of explosives was discovered near the municipality building in Naameh.

The car carried a fake license plate and contained five boxes of TNT, an unidentified explosive substance, fuses and a device for remote detonation.

At least three people detained by the General Security Directorate confessed that they were planning to detonate the car in an undisclosed location in Lebanon.

Last week, 30 people were killed and 336 wounded in a bombing in Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahieh.