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Iqlim al-Kharub, 15 September: The correspondent of the National News Agency in Iqlim al-Kharub reported that an explosion was heard at 0245 [2345 gmt] in the town of Mazbud. It later became evident that this was the result of an explosive charge placed under an American model vehicle owned by media figure Ali Tu'mah. The vehicle was parked outside his home in the town. The explosion caused major damage to the vehicle, but no-one was injured; however, a state of fear and anxiety prevailed among the town's citizens. Security elements immediately arrived to investigate the incident. When the owner of the targeted vehicle together with members of his family came out to inspect the aftermath of the explosion, a letter was found on the staircase of the house. The letter carried a warning and the signature of 'Jund al-Sham' and was hand-written in black ink. The letter read: "In the name of the Almighty. Neither autographing books nor collaborating with 'suspicious' regimes in Morocco and Saudi Arabia will be of benefit to you. Your head will be the price in future. God is great. Jund al-Sham." In addition, the commander of the Shahaym detachment First Lieutenant Janah abu-Khuzzam and elements from the police station, and the Bayt al-Din contingency forces and army elements arrived at the scene. A military expert from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and forensics also arrived and carried out an inspection of the vehicle. It was revealed that the explosive charge used was a stick of dynamite placed on the ground beneath the driver's seat. It had caused a 20-centimetre hole and major damage to the vehicle. Tu'mah said that he had not received any previous threats and considered that his articles, which some consider unacceptable, could be a motive for this incident. It is worth mentioning that on 5 August, Tu'mah autographed his most recent book on the martyr former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.
Source: Lebanese National News Agency website, Beirut, in Arabic 0823 gmt 15 Sep 05 BBC Mon ME1 MEPol bm |