LEBANON-SECURITY/CLERIC Lebanese authorities detain militant Islamist cleric

Record ID: 143832

  • Title: LEBANON-SECURITY/CLERIC Lebanese authorities detain militant Islamist cleric
  • Date: 15th August 2015
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (AUGUST 15, 2015) (REUTERS) HIGHWAY LEADING TO BEIRUT RAFIC HARIRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT VARIOUS OF ROAD SIGN READING IN ARABIC AND FRENCH 'AIRPORT' VARIOUS OF HIGHWAY LEADING TO AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADFFB4XUTF093FT04HCQY877AX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Lebanese authorities detained a militant Sunni Islamist cleric wanted for attacks on the Lebanese army as he tried to flee the country on Saturday (August 15), security officials said.
    Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir was arrested at Beirut airport as he tried to depart using a forged passport. He had undergone surgery to change his appearance, the officials said.
    Assir rose to prominence with the onset of the civil war in neighbouring Syria that fuelled sectarian tensions between Lebanese Sunnis and Shi'ites.
    Charges against him include forming a terrorist organisation and inciting violence against the army.
    In 2013, 12 Lebanese soldiers were killed when they stormed a mosque complex belonging to Assir in the southern city of Sidon. Assir's supporters accused the army of siding with the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah, which is fighting in Syria alongside the government against a Sunni-led insurgency.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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