Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi asked the security authorities on Thursday to run investigations into audio terror threats launched against the Saudi Embassy in Beirut.
An audio recording of a reported Saudi national threatening the Saudi Embassy in Beirut with terror acts against it has spread lately.
The video triggered a wave of wide condemnation in Lebanon.
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari said in a tweet: “Terror is the offspring of extremism. Its seeds begin in a depressed mind.”
Lebanon’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that Mawlawi has asked the directorates of the Internal Security Forces and the General Security to open investigations into the incident.
“Out of keenness for Lebanon’s interest, safety and maintaining the best relations with the brethren countries mainly Saudi Arabia, Minister Mawlawi has sent letters to the Internal Security Forces and General Security to open investigations into the incident,” said the statement.
According to the statement, the perpetrator is a Saudi national who is wanted on numerous terror counts by Saudi authorities.
Lebanese Forces MP Melhem Riachi described in a tweet the recording as a “blatant assault” that harms Lebanon’s “brotherly” ties with Saudi Arabia.
Kataeb MP Elias Hankash said the threat will not intimidate the Saudi embassy or the ambassador. “Ambassador Bukhari is staying here. We count on the security apparatus,” he said in a tweet.
