REPORT: Preliminary investigations into Achrafieh blast reveal Hassan was stalked

The ISF’s Information Division intensified its investigations into the deadly explosion that ripped through the crowded neighborhood of Achrafieh under the supervision of Attorney General Judge Hatem Madi.     

In details, exclusive sources told LBCI that the criminal had been stalking Major General Wissam Hassan ever since his plane coming from Paris landed in Beirut on Thursday evening. The martyr reportedly rode into a rented Nissan car and headed from Rafik Hariri International Airport to the ISF’s General Directorate where he spent the night. On Friday afternoon, he headed to the apartment he rented in Ashrafieh in the same car. 

The sources reported that while Hassan passed by the Ibrahim Mouzer Street, and when his car went near a Honda CRV, a violent explosion resounded, killing him and his bodyguard.  

According to preliminary information, the booby-trapped car was laden with 50 kg of explosives distributed between two devices which blew up simultaneously by remote control.     

The car was destroyed completely, leaving only the gear which was later found by the security forces.      

Security sources revealed that Hassan had received threats days before his assassination, warning him that he was among the top figures targeted by assassinations, mainly following the discovery of former Minister Michel Samaha’s explosion plot.    

Well-informed sources told LBCI that instructions were given to intensify investigations into the assassination of Hassan, adding that some details began to surface. They stressed that all the telecommunication data in this case will be handed over to the Information Division to facilitate investigations.         

In this regard, Attorney General Judge Hatem Madi said that investigations have been intensified, adding that the Information Division is conducting a survey to the crime scene to collect more evidence.