Man killed by the army in Hermel after refusing to stop at checkpoint

BEIRUT — A man died from gunshot wounds in Hermel Saturday, after Lebanese army troops fired on his car for refusing to stop at a temporary checkpoint at the entrance of al-Lubwa, North Bekaa, a security source confirmed to L'Orient Today's correspondent.

The young man had "attempted to quickly pass the army checkpoint with three of his companions ... Army personnel initially fired warning shots, but he did not stop, so the army continued to pursue the car and fired to stop him. However, he was wounded and taken to al-Assi Hospital in Hermel, where he passed away," the source said.

The three other men who were with him were arrested.

The families of the dead man and the three arrested men gathered to protest the killing at al-Lubwa Square Saturday and blocked the road there.

Army units were dispatched to try to calm the situation, while it opened investigations to uncover the circumstances of the incident. 

Angry youth from the family of the deceased gathered near the army checkpoint on al-Labwah's Baalbek International Road Sunday threw projectiles at Lebanese army personnel, prompting troops to fire warning shots to disperse the protesters, a security source told L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa.

Some young residents of al-Labwah had gathered to condemn the killing of the young man, whose name has yet to be released.

A statement from the people of al-Labwah, the family of the killed man, and the three arrested men, released Sunday, called on army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun to "carry out an investigation, and bring to justice those who ordered the execution without any justification. It's worth noting that all the individuals inside the car, including the martyr, had good reputations and [were of] impeccable moral character, and they are not individuals with criminal records or wanted for any crimes."

Reporting contributed by Sara Abdallah