The steeple of Notre Dame de Maghdoucheh Church in February 2023. (Credit: Layal Dagher)
Three suspects accused of burglarizing and vandalizing 10 churches in Beirut and Mount Lebanon were arrested on Sunday by the Internal Security Forces (ISF), the police announced in a statement.
A 28-year-old Syrian was arrested in Sin al-Fil and two other individuals, a 31-year-old Lebanese and a 36-year-old Syrian, in Ramlet al-Baida.
According to the police, the first two confessed, among other things, to having contributed to the burglary of 10 churches in Jounieh, Amchit, Bouar, Fidar, Kfardebian, Qornet Shehwan, Jal al-Dib and Ashrafieh. The third suspect confessed to having been informed of the operations but did not participate in them. An investigation has been opened.
These arrests come after several crimes were reported at the beginning of the year, including the following: ransacking of the Mar Zakhia Church in Amchit on Jan. 15, damage to the Mar Abda Church in Jal al-Dib on Jan. 18, desecration of the Notre Dame de Doueir Church in Fidar on Jan. 20, burglary of the Mar Youssef Church in Ashrafieh on Jan. 21, damage to the Notre Dame du Secours Church in Qornet Shehwan on Jan. 23 and theft from the Saint Ephram Church in Kfardebian on Jan. 24.
Acts of vandalism have recurred in Lebanon in recent years while the country remains mired in a severe socio-economic crisis.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
