REPORT: Minister of Interior Mashnouq closes Bir Hassan gas stations over allegations of attacks

The state-run National News Agency reported on Saturday that Minister of Interior Nouhad Mashnouq ordered the closure of the gas distribution stations in the Bir Hassan area, Beirut after investigations with arrested extremists revealed that the station could be a target of a terrorist attack.

The ministry issued a statement in this regard stressing that investigations with some detainees revealed that the gas station could be targeted by suicide-bombers.

Mashnouq ordered the stations' closure starting Monday the 3rd of March, until the whole stock is emptied.

The statement noted that the Choueifat and Dora gas stations will supply the material for the areas of Beirut and Dahieh.

This as sources told LBCI that Choueifat suicide bomber was set to blow himself up at the gas distribution stations in the Bir Hassan area, noting that terrorist arrestee Naim Abbas confessed such information during investigations with him.

Also, Hassan and Mahmoud Abou Alfa confessed to planning other bombing operations to target gas stations near the Iranian embassy.

On Monday February 3rd, an explosion hit Choueifat’s Richani gas station, leaving one person killed and several wounded.

The suicide bomber was the only one killed when he blew himself up inside a minibus, where one passenger was on board.

Lebanon has been witnessing a wave of terrorist attacks against Hezbollah strongholds, resulting in casualties and heavy material losses, as a direct spillover of the violence in neighboring Syria and Hezbollah’s intervention in the Syrian war.   

Several car bomb attacks, implemented by suicide bombers, have rocked areas that are considered Hezbollah strongholds in the country. Two bombings hit the Beirut southern suburb region of Haret Hreik, while another two attacks targeted the Bekaa town of Hermel.


To watch Bassam Abou Zeid's report, please click on the video above.