DAILY SCOPE: Terrorists Arrested Near Arsal, Roumieh Issue to Be Contained
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Lebanese newspapers on Tuesday dealt with the different domestic and regional matters, shedding light on the torture videos that were leaked through social media in which Islamists held in Lebanon's notorious Roumieh prison underwent torture by security forces.
Also, more terrorists plotting for violence were arrested, as part of the security forces' ongoing effort to curb terrorist attacks in Lebanon.
Torture Scandal Contained, Vows to Restrain Islamists --- AL-MUSTAQBAL
The rise of extremists in Lebanon's Roumieh prison has been a source of concern to the Lebanese, and on the backdrop of a scandal at the prison where guards were seen in online video clips beating suspects of terrorism, Internal Security Forces, Intelligence Branch chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman said he would not allow the so-called Roumieh Emirate to reappear.
"No matter how many sacrifices we make, I will not allow the return of the Roumieh Emirate which has been abolished irretrievably," Othman told al-Mustaqbal newspaper, published on Tuesday.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq in January ordered the clearing of Roumieh's Block B after years of warnings that the overcrowded section served as a meeting point for militants to plot attacks and strengthen their networks. Prisoners in that block were known to call into Lebanese television talk shows using smuggled mobile phones.
There were even reports that the suspects were plotting with militants from outside the prison to attack the facility and control it. Investigations in January probing the Tripoli bombings led security forces to intercept calls between Islamist inmates in Block B and the two suicide bombers who carried out the twin attack.
Also, investigations revealed that the operations room in Roumieh Prison directed many terrorist operations in Lebanon and was in contact with terrorist bases in the region.
Since the decision was taken to clear the block and "since we succeeded in carrying out the security operation in it earlier this year, the parties that were damaged by our professionalism sought to revive the Emirate," said Othman.
Othman said he wants to remind everyone that the Intelligence Branch is making sacrifices for the country and has stopped many criminals, adding that Intelligence officers have also contributed to confronting terrorism.
Death Threats to Interior Minister, Security Officials ---AL-AKHBAR
The video that was leaked on the torture of the prisoners in the notorious Roumieh jail has had quick repercussions, revealing intentions of revenge against the security forces and the Ministry of Interior.
According to al-Akhbar newspaper, the different terrorist groups, ‘Abdallah Azzam Brigades', the so-called ‘ISIL', and ‘al-Nusra front' will race to take revenge and pay back what the video has revealed, with a long list of targets that includes the minister of Interior and several officers and generals in the Security forces.
Terrorist figures, including Ahmad al-Asir have been calling the Interior Minister different names, including ‘the traitor', ‘the enemy of God', and other.
So-called ‘Jihadi' sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that ‘targeting the Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnouq is a duty to be undertaken at the first possible opportunity."
Sources have revealed that there exist strong cooperation and relations between the ‘Abdallah Azzam Brigades' and al-Nusra front, noting that the former has paid allegiance to the latter a year ago, meaning that as long as there is war, the brigades will work hand in hand with al-Nusra front.
Suspected Terrorists Arrested Outside Arsal --- AS-SAFIR
Five suspected terrorists were arrested outside the northeastern border town of Arsal Monday night, after the group attempted to infiltrate Lebanese territory, a security source told As-Safir daily on Tuesday.
Five defecting soldiers from the Syrian army were hiding out in a Syrian refugee camp in the area of Wadi Hmayed, outside of Arsal. They were arrested at an Army checkpoint in the area after they attempted to enter the town.
The men are suspected of belonging to the terrorist group ‘al-Nusra Front', while one of the suspects was previously a high ranking officer in the Syrian army.
Monday's arrest is the latest move in in a bid to insulate the volatile border town from the threat of Syrian militants, who have holed up in the mountains surrounding Arsal since spring 2014, when they were driven out by Hizbullah and the Syrian army from Syria's Qalamoun mountain range.
Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwagi said in a report published earlier this month that the military has wrested control over all geographical crossings linking Arsal to its outskirts, asserting that it was impossible for Syrian extremists to infiltrate the town.
Source: al-Ahed news
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