A new Christmas tree erected in Tripoli after the burning of the first one by arsonists (Credit: photo circulating on social media on December 24, 2023)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese army announced on Wednesday that it arrested an individual on Tuesday suspected of burning a Christmas tree on Dec. 24.
"On [Tuesday], a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate arrested the citizen (W.B.) for setting fire to the Christmas tree in the Zahrieh area – Tripoli on Dec. 24 with a Molotov cocktail," reads the army's statement.
The army added that "an investigation was launched with the detainee under the supervision of the competent judiciary."
L'Orient Today reported on Dec. 24 that unidentified persons burned down a Christmas tree in Tripoli and tried to set fire to a second one in the city at dawn on Christmas Eve. Later that day, a new Christmas tree was erected and decorated in the same place where the first one was burned.
This incident sparked outrage among the local political leaders.
A similar occurrence happened in December 2019 when a Christmas tree was also set on fire at the al-Nini roundabout in Tripoli.
