Lebanon fears extremists have entered the country as tourists

Oct 7, 2009, 16:36 GMT

Beirut - Lebanon's security apparatus are looking into claims that hundreds of Islamist fundamentalists loyal to al-Qaeda have entered Lebanon during the summer as tourists and remain in the country to plan terrorist attacks, a security official said Wednesday.

The high-ranking official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the German Press Agency dpa, 'our job is to look into these claims ... to see if these claims are true.'

Lebanese media reported that around 700 Arab nationals - extremists from Sunni fundamentalist groups such as the international terrorist network al-Qaeda - entered Lebanon in mid-August and never left the country.

According to the reports, the extremists were planning terror attacks inside Lebanon and in several neighboring Arab states.

The source said the Lebanese security forces had received some information from Arab intelligence departments about suspects fleeing to Lebanon and the authorities are looking into these cases.

Many observers fear that some of those extremists may try to turn Lebanon into a new launching pad for attacks against Westerners and Israel.

During the summer, several Katyusha rockets were fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon. No one has claimed responsibility, but many believe that Sunni fundamentalist groups are behind such attacks.