Following a recent surge in crime, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi affirmed on Monday that security services are “actively fulfilling their duties,” revealing that 1,920 individuals have been arrested for various crimes in January.

“This is proof that the security forces are doing their job and that proactive security measures are effective,” Mawlawi stated during a press conference following a Central Security Council meeting.

He clarified that the recent wave of transgressions is criminal in nature rather than security-related, emphasizing that certain crimes “cannot be prevented, but security deployment will be intensified.”

He also highlighted the efficiency of security agencies, stressing that “criminals are being apprehended within a short period of time.”

Among the directives issued to all security agencies the need to increase patrols and enforce a motorcycle ban in Beirut, citing a rise in robberies by bikers.

Addressing two recent high-profile crimes, he said that cases such as the murder of Armenian Orthodox Archimandrite Anania Kojanian and the deliberate killing of 19-year-old Khalil Khalil in Faraya were difficult to anticipate, but assured that perpetrators are swiftly being brought to justice.

Turning to border security, Mawlawi commended the Lebanese Army (LAF) for its ongoing efforts to control the frontier, despite significant challenges. However, he urged greater cooperation from the Syrian authorities, particularly in arresting fugitives who escape into Syria.

“The arrest of those who flee across the border requires the activation of the international liaison office,” he explained, adding that security services are “working rapidly” to detain suspects before they leave Lebanese territory.

Over the past weekend, Lebanon has witnessed a worrying increase in violent incidents, adding to a pattern of escalating insecurity. From attempted murders to killings over trivial disputes and a wave of robberies, these incidents are stoking an atmosphere of fear and tension across the country.

Attempted Murder of Priest Elie Joseph Bachaalani

On Sunday morning, gunshots were fired at the vehicle of Father Elie Joseph Bachaalani as he was returning to his home in Mreijat, Beqaa, from Beirut.

In his statement to the Chtaura police, the priest reported that a black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows and an unknown license plate had been following him all the way to his home. After arriving at around 6:20 AM, the vehicle fled, but an hour later, it returned. A man got out and opened fire on the priest’s car, hitting both the vehicle and a nearby building.

Later that evening, Jihad al-Qattan, a Syrian national, was arrested by the Interior Security Forces' Intelligence. He is accused of firing an automatic weapon at the priest’s home. Both the car and the weapon were seized, and an investigation was launched under the supervision of the Beqaa Public Prosecutor.

Murder in Faraya Over a Road Rage Dispute

On the same morning, the town of Faraya was rocked by a tragic incident in which 18-year-old Khalil Khalil lost his life following a dispute over right-of-way on the road.

Reports indicate that after a confrontation over driving, Jonathan Chamoun pursued Khalil to the hotel where his family was staying in Faraya. When Khalil’s sister noticed a suspicious vehicle outside, she was horrified to find her brother’s body lying on the ground. Chamoun reportedly told her, "That'll teach him not to cut me off."

Outraged by the crime, local residents blocked the Faraya road by setting tires on fire, demanding the extradition of the murderers. The Lebanese Army and security forces quickly intervened and secured the area.

On Sunday evening, the Lebanese Army announced the arrest of two individuals, identified as (J. Ch.) and (R. S.), in Aiyat, Akkar. They are accused, along with others, of being involved in the fatal assault on Khalil Khalil in Faraya on the night of February 1-2. The investigation is ongoing, and further suspects are being interrogated under the supervision of the relevant prosecutor.

Assassination of Archimandrite Anania Kojanian

These incidents come on the heels of the assassination of Archimandrite Anania Kojanian, the Episcopal Vicar of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon. Kojanian, 40, was found dead in his home in Bsalim, Metn. It is believed to have been a premeditated killing.

Read more: https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1307426/murder-of-archimandrite-anania-kojanian-president-aoun-vows-justice-and-accountability

In addition to these violent incidents, numerous thefts have been reported across the country. In Kaslik, a woman was violently robbed of her purse, while in Achrafieh, Beirut’s bustling central district, residents endured a particularly distressing week, with nearly a dozen thefts targeting businesses and individuals.

 

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