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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Security sources: Lebanese Forces on alert after receiving threats |
| 2005-09-14 |
| Bsharri MP Strida Geagea's abrupt departure from the country last week came after threats were made against the Lebanese Forces representative from persons claiming to be Al-Qaeda members, according to security sources. Geagea had been scheduled to address a crowd of LF supporters in Bourj Hammoud last week and attend a rally at the Our Lady of Harissa Cathedral on Sunday in remembrance of the party's martyrs killed during the Civil War. But according to sources, an anonymous caller - identifying himself only as a member of Al-Qaeda - threatened to blow up a commercial center in Bourj Hammoud if the LF held a rally in the area. The call was made to the Internal Security Forces emergency 112 number, and was eventually traced to a pay phone in Bourj Hammoud. LF officials immediately cancelled the planned rally upon being informed of the threat. Two other calls were made to the Internal Security Forces operations center in Jounieh Friday night. The first came from Dora, with the second, made two hours later, coming from Bikfaya. Again the caller claimed he was an Al-Qaeda member and threatened to blow up the Our Lady of Harissa Cathedral, with the LF "blasphemers" inside it, if they spoke against the forces fighting Israel and Zionism. The LF commandment was once more informed of the threats and decided to go ahead with the rally, but without Geagea. Security measures were increased and explosive experts were called in to examine the site several times before the Mass was given the green light. All the roads leading to the church were also searched. According to instructions from the authorities and with the cooperation of technical experts, the origins of the phoned in threats were determined and two people were arrested. An Egyptian national has been charged with threatening to blow up the commercial center in Bourj Hammoud. A Syrian national was found to have placed the call from Dora before he moved to Bikfaya to place the second call threatening to blow up the Our Lady of Harissa Cathedral and the square where the LF planned to gather. Well-informed sources said the pre-paid telephone cards used to place the phone calls were seized after investigations led to the discovery of the locations of the phone booths. Investigations are still ongoing. |
| Posted by:Fred |