ALBAWABA - Lebanese security forces have announced the arrest of a suspected gunman who fired a dozen bullets at the US embassy in Beirut on September 20th.
The authorities identified the suspect as 26-year-old Lebanese national Muhammad Mahdi Hussein Khalil, who had worked for a delivery company. The source added Khalil had a criminal record for previously opening fire on a Lebanese Public Security center.
An internal source told Arab News: "The shooter carried out his act after previous disputes between him and embassy security over food deliveries,". According to the source, Khalil confessed to shooting at the embassy compound in the Awkar suburb of Beirut and the weapon used in the attack had been seized.
Following a meeting with Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea said on Friday the embassy was not intimidated by the incident. "We know that authorities are investigating this incident," Shea said in a statement.
An anonymous car with no license plates fired multiple bullets at the gate to the US Embassy in Beirut on September 20th. According to initial reports, no embassy workers or tourists were injured.
The motivation behind the attack remains unknown, as authorities work to investigate the situation.
