Shots after election results in Lebanon: nine new arrests

Lebanese Army announced Wednesday that it had arrested nine more people suspected of shooting in the air to celebrate the municipal election results in Mount Lebanon and North Lebanon on May 4 and 11.

Those arrested in several localities of Zghorta and Minyie-Denniyeh were in possession of weapons and ammunition, which were seized, the statement said.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese army had already announced the arrest of three people in Younine, in the Baalbeck region, suspected of shooting in the air to celebrate the municipal election results in the Bekaa. These shots had resulted in the death of a civilian. On May 16, the army also reported the arrest of 86 people for the same offenses.

All gun permits are suspended in several governorates and regions of the country, according to the municipal election schedule. This freeze covers the day before the election, as well as the two following days, and remains in effect until the results are published.

On Thursday, Parliament had adopted a bill doubling the penalties against celebratory shooting. This bill, presented by MP Achraf Baydoun, modifies law No. 71 of Oct. 27, 2016, which criminalizes celebratory shooting by doubling the penalties incurred. This decision came after two people were injured by stray bullets in Tripoli, after the announcement of the municipal results. Although illegal, "celebratory" shootings are very common in Lebanon. According to the Beirut-based research center Information International, stray bullets have caused an average of seven deaths and fifteen injuries per year between 2010 and 2021.