One killed, others wounded in shooting near Lebanon mosque

One person was killed and a number of others were wounded on Friday after worshippers at a mosque in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa region were shot at as they left, in what was allegedly a personal dispute.

"According to preliminary information, a young man opened fire with a military machine gun at worshippers as they were leaving Friday prayers in a mosque in Bar Elias," a security source in the Bekaa told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

A video shared by Al Jadeed television purportedly shows the moment the shooter began firing at worshippers as they left the mosque.

The New Arab could not verify this.

أفاد مراسل "#الجديد" بأنّ عدداً من المصلّين تعرّضوا لإطلاق نار لحظة خروجهم من مسجد "عكاشة" في برالياس. pic.twitter.com/INDSDcSo79

— Al Jadeed News (@ALJADEEDNEWS) July 7, 2023

Translation: Al-Jadeed correspondent reported that a number of worshipers were shot at as they left the "Akasha" mosque in Bar Elias.

In a statement, the Lebanese army said the shooter was wounded during his arrest and was taken to hospital for treatment.

It did not reveal further information on him.

توقيف مواطن لإطلاقه النار على أشخاص في بلدة بر الياس - البقاع#الجيش_اللبناني #LebaneseArmyhttps://t.co/T3WI2TegOf pic.twitter.com/wmdrYGrHqZ

— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) July 7, 2023

Preliminary information indicated the shooting was sparked by a personal dispute, Reuters quoted a security source as saying.

Local media reports identified the victim as Ali Shibli, who was a professor of economics at a high school.

Bekaa Governor Kamal Abu Jaoude tasked the Bar Elias municipal police to "maintain order and security in the town, and to provide the required assistance to support the security forces when necessary," calling on people to "show the highest levels of awareness and responsibility."