Suspect Blows Himself up in Army Raid in North, Injures 7
A wanted suspect blew himself on Saturday during an army raid against his residence in the northern region of Deir Ammar, announced the military in a statement.
It said that Mohammed Mustafa Hamza first tossed two hand grenades at the troops, one of which exploded, wounding seven soldiers.
He then detonated an explosives belt, killing himself and two of his relatives.
The National News Agency said his mother, Hasna Hamza, and niece, Israa Mohammed al-Sayyed, were killed in the blast.
A number of other civilians at the scene were wounded, said the army communique.
NNA said the suspect's sister Safa Hamza was among the wounded.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) identified some of the injured soldiers as Hassan Safa, Fadi Kanj, Khodr Deeb, Wassim Khalifeh, and Hassan Tleijeh.
A number of Lebanese and Syrian nationals were arrested in connection to Hamza, added the army.
The military police is tackling the investigation in the case along with the concerned judiciary.
Hamza, a fugitive, is wanted for opening fire at two army patrols in the Mankoubin neighborhood in the northern city of Tripoli in 2014, continued the military statement.
He also joined an armed group in opening fire at a military surveillance post on September 24, 2014.
The incident left several soldiers dead and one civilian injured.
Media reports had said earlier on Saturday that Hamza was linked to the armed group of Osama Mansour, who was shot dead by security forces in Tripoli in April.
Mansour and extremist Shadi al-Mawlawi had led armed groups that engaged in deadly gunbattles with the army in Tripoli and its surrounding areas in October.
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