Jeb Jenine residents hold sit-in in support of detained depositor who took hostages in a Bekaa bank yesterday

BEIRUT — Residents held a sit-in in front of the Jeb Jenine Serail, demanding the release of arrested bank depositor Abdullah al-Saai, who took hostages in a bank in the Bekaa on Tuesday in an attempt to retrieve his savings. Saai has announced he will observe a hunger strike until he is released, according to our correspondent in the area.

Here’s what we know:

    • Saai was arrested by Internal Security Forces on Tuesday after he took hostages inside a Bekaa branch of the Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries, threatening to set them alight, after the bank had allegedly refused to pay him the $50,000 that he had in his account.

    • Saai had asked to “withdraw $50,000 from his account,” but when the bank refused, he brandished a gun and grenade in front of the employees and sprayed himself with gasoline before also throwing it on the premises, threatening to set fire, a source from BBAC told AFP.

    • Another sit-in was carried out by protesters in front of the BBAC branch in Jeb Jenine, where protesters held angry signs, reading “corruption system” and “thieves.”

    • Since the economic crisis started in 2019, banks have imposed restrictions on foreign exchange, limited withdrawals for Lebanese depositors and prevented money transfers abroad.