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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| ICT commentary on the Lebanese al-Qaeda cell |
| 2004-09-27 |
| According to Lebanese sources, a few days ago, the Lebanese security forces thwarted a terror attack against the Italian embassy in the heart of Beirut, near the Lebanese Parliament building. Five members of the terrorist cell that planned the attack have been wanted by the Lebanese security forces since 1999. The cell is headed by Ahmed Al Mikati, a member of Usbat al-Ansar, a Lebanese Islamic organizations affiliated with Al Qaida,. According to the sources, the terrorists had intended to place a car bomb containing approximately 300 kilograms of explosives near the embassy building. The cell members were arrested while preparing the car bomb, and found to be in possession of forged papers, including entry passes which would have allowed them to bring the car into the Parliament compound. The leader of the cell, Ahmed Al Mikati had apparently undergone plastic surgery in order to change his appearance. He also held a forged passport and was in disguise when he was arrested. Ahmed Al Mikati was one of a group of Usbat al-Ansar fighters who settled in northern Lebanon after returning from Afghanistan. In 1999, the group was involved in clashes with the Lebanese army in the village of Dinneyeh. Ahmed Al Mikati fled to the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Zidon. His name has been associated with several terror attacks and attempted attacks in Lebanon over the past two years. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |