A bodyguard and Mikati adviser's son filmed beating a young Syrian

Video footage showing a young man — the son of an adviser to former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati — and his father's bodyguard, has caused outrage on social media on Tuesday, as the images show these two individuals beating a young Syrian in the street.

The bodyguard was arrested on Monday, according to information confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour by the Internal Security Forces (ISF).

The widely circulated video shows a seated young man, whose head is held and punched by the bodyguard. An adolescent, identified as the son of Mikati's adviser, then steps in to beat the victim as well, while the driver hurls insults. An investigation has been opened into this incident, according to the ISF.

In a statement released Monday evening, police explained that the Syrian individual, H.R., 23, had assaulted the son of Mikati's adviser, M. H., 16, as well as one of his friends.

The bodyguard, A. M., 42, then proceeded to beat the Syrian individual and encouraged M.H. to do the same, while a friend filmed the scene.

On social media, many users condemned the attack and called for justice for the victim. A photo of the bodyguard posing alongside Mikati was also shared. The young M. H. is also expected to be questioned as part of the investigation, the ISF assured our publication.

Mikati and young suspect's school condemn attack

Responding to the assault, Mikati issued a statement Tuesday in which he "condemns and deplores the video documenting the physical assault of a person by the bodyguard of one of his advisers."

"At Mr. Mikati's request, appropriate legal measures were taken to bring the assailant to justice. An investigation has been opened, and the person concerned has been arrested. This reprehensible individual act has no connection to the rules and ethics governing the employees of the Mikati group," the statement continued.

International College, the prestigious Beirut school where M. H. is a student, also condemned — in a statement published on its social media — an "objectionable act of violence."

"The behavior shown in the video is completely contrary to our values and principles ... Any form of aggression or mistreatment of a student or anyone else is intolerable and will be met with firm action," the institution emphasized.

In an online post, the young attacker's mother, for her part, called on people not to encourage "defamation," while saying that her son's behavior in the video "is not ideal" and that he acted "under the influence of fear."