One convicted Fatah al-Islam member managed early Tuesday to escape from Lebanon's Roumieh prison. He was part of a 8-man strong group led by Abu Salim Taha. The other seven were re-arrested, according to Lebanese press reports. Lebanese security forces aborted early Tuesday a massive escape attempt from Roumieh prison by a group of convicted Fatah al-Islam terrorists.
According to Lebanese sources, the group managed to escape their cell around 5:30 am after sawing off their window bars and scaling down knotted blankets.
A massive security manhunt to arrest fugitive Taha al-Hajj Suleiman, a Syrian, was underway on Tuesday. The state-run National News Agency said police and Lebanese soldiers were backed by helicopter gunships. Security sources described Suleiman as a "dangerous" member of Fatah Islam.
Fatah Islam is a Sunni Islamist group that first formed in late 2006. It draws inspiration from al-Qaeda network.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
