Beirut (agencies)
Yesterday, the Lebanese Ministry of Interior announced that it had thwarted three bombing attacks that a group linked to the Islamic State was planning to carry out simultaneously in the southern suburb of Beirut. Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi said in a press conference that “a terrorist group linked to ISIS has been arrested that is recruiting young people in Lebanon to carry out major explosive operations with explosive belts and explosives.” He added that the bombings would have caused many casualties if they were carried out, considering that thwarting them constitutes a “model of successful proactive security.” In this regard, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces Directorate stated in a statement that it had identified 4 people who participated in the preparation of the attacks, noting that they were residing in the “Ain El-Helweh” camp in the city of Sidon in southern Lebanon.
She added that she was able to recruit a source within “communication groups” working for the extremist organization, pointing out that the latter received instructions from a leader in the organization residing in the “Ain al-Hilweh” camp and in contact with the organization in Syria.
She indicated that the goal was to carry out three simultaneous operations in the southern suburbs of Beirut once morest religious compounds.
