Baabda Palace of Justice in March 2022. (Credit: File photo/AFP)
Lebanon's Palace of Justice received security threats, hours before a hearing was due to take place, involving individuals connected to an ISIS-claimed suicide bombing in Beirut's southern suburb of Haret Hreik in 2014.
The head of the Higher Judicial Council, Judge Souheil Abboud, received warnings from Head of Army Intelligence Tony Kahwaji just hours before the scheduled hearing on Nov. 24, a judicial source confirmed to L'Orient Today on Saturday.
"The head of the Higher Judicial Council adjourned, but did not cancel the session. Responsibility now lies with relevant authorities, notably caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi and security service leaders. They are tasked with implementing necessary measures to safeguard the Justice Palace, judges, legal representatives and staff," stated a judicial source to L'Orient Today.
The army's intelligence head had strongly advised Abboud to postpone the session due to potential security threats, our source confirmed. L'Orient Today's source added that a "terrorist group" had planned to attack the vehicle transporting detainee Naim Abbas, a Palestinian national who is accused of being involved in the southern suburb bombings, while it was on its way from Roumieh prison to the Justice Palace.
The primary objective of this group was to free Abbas, according to our source. According to our source, there were also plans to storm the Justice Palace and liberate Naim Abbas by force.
In 2014, Lebanese authorities detained Naim Abbas and others for alleged involvement with Al-Nusra Front and the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, affiliated with Al-Qaeda. It followed a suicide car bomb, which killed at least six people in Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut. It was claimed by ISIS.