The ten suspects accused of stealing and destroying the bell of a Broummana church. (Credit: Twitter @LebISF)
BEIRUT — Ten suspects were arrested by Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) for the theft, destruction and concealment of a church bell from the Broummana area of Metn, the police said in a statement published Saturday.
According to the statement, four Syrian nationals aged 15 to 40 were arrested April 12 in Bsalim, also in Metn, after being suspected of stealing the bell of the Church of St. Anthony in Qannabeh-Broummana the previous day. During its investigation, the police identified two scrap metal workshops in Nahr al-Mawt (at the northern exit of Beirut) and in Amchit (Jbeil), where the bell was transported to be destroyed.
Six other people, five Syrians and an undocumented person, suspected of receiving the stolen goods were also arrested. According to the police, they admitted to transporting various pieces of scrap metal obtained from the bell to Tripoli, North Lebanon, to sell them.
The bell's remains were handed over to the priest of St. Anthony's parish, along with the money seized during the operation, worth $550 and over LL 31 million (over $320 at the parallel market rate).
During this operation, the ISF also confiscated two SUVs and a moped.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against the suspects.