aTP- Arab tourism portal- Two Lebanese who work at the Rafik Hariri International Airport were detained by authorities last week over suspected contact with terrorist groups, security sources told The Daily Star Sunday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources said that the Lebanese, who work at a service company inside the airport, were arrested by members of airport security Friday on suspicion that they had contacted terrorist groups.
Local media reports said the suspects were discovered when a random security check was made on the airport’s employees.
Discreet investigations are underway to uncover more information about the suspects’ relation to militant groups, the sources said.
No further details were given.
The incident comes weeks after Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk vowed to address security gaps at the airport. He said that the gaps were similar to those that were in the Sharm el-Sheikh airport prior to the explosion of a departing Russian plane.
A Daesh-affiliated group in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane in October that killed all 224 people on board.
Separate remarks by Machnouk in January that British Airways and Air France were contemplating stopping flights to Beirut because of the airport’s lax security measures raised controversy.
