Screenshot from a video showing the Lebanese army arresting an armed man in Jounieh, September 17, 2023. (Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah)
A video of an armed man in Jounieh circulated on social media before the Lebanese Army arrested him Sunday morning, a security source confirmed to L'Orient Today.
The video shows a man holding a gun while a second man watches while a militia anthem plays in the background.
استفاقت احدى ساحات #جونية على حدث غير مألوف، شاب مُسلّح قرب متراس من عدة اكياس رمل، واعلام القوات والكتائب والاحرار وأغاني حماسية.. حديث عن اطلاقه بضعة عيارات نارية في الهواء.. استنفار للجيش ومخابراته .. ومن ثم إطباق على الشاب المسلّح والقاء القبض عليه دون مقاومة ظاهرة..
— Marwan Matni ?? (@marwanmatni) September 17, 2023
حادثة… pic.twitter.com/9QUjxyyMQ2
Another video shared on social media showed a number of Lebanese army soldiers arresting the man. The source said the details of the matter are still being investigated.
The Lebanese Army later stated they arrested the man, with the initials J.J., for arbitrarily shooting in the air and "making people panic." According to the statement, security forces confiscated a Kalashnikov, hand grenade, ammunition, military costumes, and a party flag from the man.