Report: Syrian Arrested for Plotting Murder of Army Intelligence Official

The Lebanese Army has arrested a Syrian on suspicion of plotting to assassinate the head of the military intelligence in the South, Brig. Gen. Ali Shahrour, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The daily said Syrian refugee Khaled Mohammed was apprehended three weeks ago in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh.

Mohammed had come to Lebanon after escaping from the Syrian town of Hassakeh and began working at construction sites in different areas of Nabatiyeh, said the report.

But the suspect later settled at a construction site near a house that Shahrour is building.

The Syrian refugee began drawing suspicion when he began monitoring Shahrour's house and asking women in the neighborhood about his motorcade, said the newspaper.

According to al-Joumhouria, the Army Intelligence discovered that Mohammed was plotting to toss a hand grenade on the convoy of Shahrour, who is set to retire at the end of June and will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Khodor Hammoud.

The Syrian admitted to the plot before he was transferred to the military tribunal for trial, said the report.

G.K.

D.A.