Minister Karami's convoy attacked in Tripoli during Friday prayers

The Lebanese Armed Forces declared that the situation in Tripoli returned to “normal” while army units are still pursuing gunmen.      

Earlier, members of the committee tasked to follow up the case of the Islamists detained in the Roumieh Prison, blocked the roads leading to Abdel Hamid Karami Square in Tripoli prior to the Friday prayers.   

The relatives of the prisoners held a protest whereby Sheikh Salem Rafei delivered a speech demanding the acceleration of the prosecutions of Islamist militants.      

The Islamists were detained after the Nahr el-Bared clashes back in 2007 when the Lebanese Army was attacked by extremist militants who were hiding in the camp.      

During the protest, a vehicle in Minister Faysal Karami’s convoy caught fire in the Tall area after unidentified persons threw a bomb towards it.       

In this context, Minister Karami's Media Office reported that gunfire and a bomb targeting the minister’s convoy caused the injury of 4 body guards, one of whom succumbed to his wounds. He was identified as Hussam al-Sabbagh.       

Later on, the National News Agency correspondent denied the news pertaining to the death of al-Sabbagh, adding that 11 people were injured.       

LBCI contacted minister Karami who said that today's incident aims at targeting Tripoli's stability, stressing that he does not consider the attack on his convoy to be an assassination plot. Following the incident, the Lebanese Army units deployed in Tripoli and enhanced security measures.     

Commenting on the incident, former PM Omar Karami, father of Faysal Karami, held a press conference whereby he reassured the public opinion that divine providence intervened to save Faysal from "a tragic end."      

"We won’t accuse anyone and we won’t file lawsuits," he said, stressing his commitment to the state’s choices. Karami urged LAF and security forces to assume their role in strengthening security.       

"We call on our loved ones to realize the scale of responsibility put on our shoulders," he concluded.  

In this regard, sources had told LBCI that PM Najib Mikati asked Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to hold an urgent meeting for the Sub-Security Council in the North to discuss the latest incidents.   

The port city of Tripoli, a stronghold of Sunni Islamists in northern Lebanon, awoke to a disturbing atmosphere on Friday morning whereby two UXO’s were found in Bab al-Jihad park in Bab el-Tebbaneh which were later dismantled by LAF engineers.    

The ongoing clashes in neighboring Syria, where the Sunni majority is leading a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad is adding to the tensions in the city with opposers and supporters clashing between Jabbal Mohsen and Bab el-Tebbaneh.      

Partisans of either side have clashed frequently, heightening fears that the war is spilling over into Lebanon.     


Positions:    

In a statement, Tripoli's Islamists blamed an "unknown side" for today's incident, calling on the Lebanese Armed Forces to take charge of security in the city. 

They considered that today’s incident aims at "undermining stability and foiling any attempt to grant justice to Islamist detainees."   

Former PM Saad Hariri called Minister Faisal Karami and strongly condemned the accident which took place today, noting that such an act is a "despicable attempt to drive the city of Tripoli towards instability."   

Hariri called upon the citizens of Tripoli and the city's official figures to remain vigilant over such attempts while cooperating with the security and legal authorities to fight against such incidents.     

For his part, Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil stressed the need to set up a "real security plan" in Tripoli, adding that the region needs the presence of the state.    

In turn, Interior and Municipalities Minister Marwan Charbel held a press conference at Karami's residence, where he called on the state to hold meetings and come up with decisions to make Tripoli a weapons-free zone, stressing that the residents of Tripoli are peaceful people who have fallen prey to arms possession.   

He added that the security apparatuses and the Lebanese judiciary do not provide a cover to gunmen, noting that Minister Karami stated that he was not the target of today's attack, "this statement created a positive atmosphere".    

"I hope that today's incident would serve as a lesson to political and non-political figures," he said, pointing out that today's incident is the product of the spread of arms in Lebanon and the state's shortcomings in controlling this phenomenon.    

For his part, MP Sleiman Franjieh called Minister Faysal Karami to condemn today's incident in Tripoli.      

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani also telephoned Minister Karami, and said that the state should assume its responsibilities in protecting all the Lebanese people.     
However, Labor Minister Salim Jreissati noted, after meeting Minister Karami, that all the Lebanese people should adhere to the state to confront future instability, stressing that "the statement of former PM Omar Karami shows that he is a grade-A statesman."       

In turn, Hezbollah strongly condemned the attack against Minister Karami.