The Lebanese Armed Forces Command issued a statement whereby it stated that fugitive Mohammad Mustafa Hamza threw two hand grenades at a Lebanese army patrol during a raid on the suspect’s house in the town of Deir Ammar in North Lebanon, noting that one grenade detonated, injuring seven army members including two officers.
The statement added that the suspect then blew himself up using an explosive belt, killing himself and two members of his family, while injuring several others.
The army command noted that Hamza “is wanted for justice for opening fire at two army patrols in al-Mankoubin neighborhood in the northern city of Tripoli back in 2014, and participating with an armed group in firing at an army surveillance base in Tripoli's Beddawi region on 23/9/2014, killing one army member.”
According to the same statement, the army patrol managed to arrest Lebanese and Syrian nationals suspected of having links with the suicide bomber.
The military police launched an investigation into the incident under the supervision of the concerned judiciary.
This as the explosion caused severe damages to the building.
Lebanese security apparatuses has conducted a series of arrest raids since two suicide bombs claimed by Islamic State killed 44 people in Beirut last month.