President Aoun praises security forces on thwarting attempted terrorist attack

NNA - President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, lauded on Sunday the security cooperation between the Army's Intelligence and the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch for foiling on Saturday the would-be suicide bomber attack at Costa Coffee Shop in Hamra, Beirut. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Orientation Directorate issued on Sunday the following statement: "In a joint mission in coordination with the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), a task force from the Intelligence Directorate was able to thwart a terrorist suicide attack at 10.30 last night in Costa Coffee in Hamra Street. The operation led to the capture of the suicide bomber, identified as Omar Hassan Al Assi. His ID card was found on him along with a suicide vest, which the task force successfully stopped him from detonating. The terrorist tried to force his entry in to above mentioned coffee shop and got into a fist fight with the military force, during which he was wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. The President, who closely followed the events since last night and was briefed on the security measures of the operation, saluted the preemptive mission by the Security Forces which saved many lives at the coffee shop. =====R.K./R.Z.