(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Security forces arrested 17 men on Friday after raiding the Napoleon hotel on Hamra Street in Beirut. According to sources, forces received a tip that terror suspects linked to a plot to assassinate Speaker Nabih Berri had sought refuge there.
200 police officers from the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch and General Security reportedly blocked all roads leading to the hotel starting at 10am.
A conference for Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement today was cancelled due to “security reasons,” according to NBN-TV. Security officials wouldn’t confirm if the raid was linked to the Amal conference, but said it was pointed to “high risk.”
For several hours, six police jeeps reportedly blocked the entrances to the hotel with about 20 police officers keeping journalists, tourists, and people passing by from approaching the facility.
According to security sources, 12 suspects of Lebanese, Palestinian, and Pakistani nationalities had been arrested in the hotel. Another five suspects were arrested in the surrounding areas, including the Casa D’or Hotel, where police arrested one suspect.
Security forces have blocked several roads in and around Beirut, including those leading to Berri’s residence in Ain al-Tineh, the Kuwaiti Embassy, UNESCO and the military hospital in Badaro.
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