SAUDI MAN BOMBS BEIRUT HOTEL, SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED

Lebanese firefighters extinguish a fire at the Duroy Hotel where a man detonated his explosives as security forces stormed his room in the Raouche neighborhood of Beirut on June 25, 2014. (Photo: Press TV) — **Lebanese firefighters extinguish a fire at the Duroy Hotel where a man detonated his explosives as security forces stormed his room in Beirut on June 25, 2014.** (Photo: Press TV)

Beirut, 28 Sya’ban 1435/26 June 2014 (MINA) – About a dozen people, including three members of security forces, have been injured in a bomb attack at a hotel in the Lebanese capital.

A Saudi national detonated his explosives in his hotel room in Beirut during a raid by Lebanese security forces on Wednesday, the Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star reported.

Another suspected Saudi bomber, who was injured in the bombing, was arrested at the scene, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Thursday.

The two had taken refuge in Duroy Hotel near the Saudi Embassy in the Raouche neighborhood of Beirut when Lebanese security agents raided the hotel after receiving intelligence of their stay there, security sources said.

“This was a pre-emptive strike by General Security,” Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said, adding that the two Saudi nationals “were supposed to carry out an attack in another location.”

Machnouk also said that it was not the first time that security forces have prevented bombers from reaching their targets.

The attack came a day after a car bombing in a southern neighborhood of Beirut killed a security officer and injured at least 20 people.

Lebanon has been suffering from terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda-linked militants as well as random rocket attacks, which are viewed as a spillover of the conflict in Syria. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)