BEIRUT — A group of protesters blocked the main Qubbeh-Tripoli road in northern Lebanon on Friday evening, setting fire to waste containers, demanding the immediate release of a man detained by army intelligence for sending offensive messages about displaced people seeking refuge in Tripoli, our correspondent in the North reported.

They also blocked the road near the water tanks in Qubbeh.

The unrest followed the arrest of a man identified as "A.T." by Lebanese Army Intelligence. A.T. had previously threatened and sent offensive audio messages to the administration of Al-Farabi School in Qubbeh, which hosts displaced persons.

Protesters are calling for A.T.'s immediate release, arguing that he was simply expressing his opinion through the audio messages.

Tripoli frequently experiences social unrest and protests, some of which have escalated into clashes between protesters and police.

Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak