BEIRUT, 23 September 2004 — Lebanon arrested 10 members of a suspected Lebanese Al-Qaeda terror network, thereby thwarting a planned attack on the Italian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanese Interior Minister Elias Murr said yesterday.

The operation led to the discovery of a suspected Al-Qaeda network in Lebanon which had ties to several Arab and European countries as well as Sudan, he told reporters after a meeting with the Italian and German ambassadors in Beirut.

The four-day search had been launched last Saturday after Beirut received information from Italy about the suspected attack on the embassy that is located next to the Lebanese Parliament, Murr said.

It marked the first arrests ever of suspected Al-Qaeda operatives in the country, and involved international cooperation with Italian and Syrian security services, Murr said.

Among those detained was the group’s Lebanese leader, Ismail Mohammed Al-Khateeb, who was arrested in the predominantly Sunni Muslim area of the western Bekaa Valley, said Murr.

A planned car bomb attack at the Italian Embassy here was thwarted as a result of the successful anti-terrorist operation, he explained, adding the extremists had intended to detonate 300 kilograms of explosives at the building.

“Lebanon has never seen such a well-organized and dangerous network,” said Murr. He named Italy, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Sudan as countries to which the group had connections. Some of the group’s members were based in Germany, according to security sources.

The network’s role had been to “enroll fundamentalists to carry out attacks against the coalition forces in Iraq,” he said.

Most of the detainees were Lebanese “in addition to some Palestinians which also include a woman,” said the minister, adding those arrested were now being interrogated.

One Lebanese, identified as Ahmed Selim Mikati, had been hiding in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain El Hilweh, east of the southern port city Sidon, when he was arrested, said Murr.

Explosives intended for the attack as well as documents and other details of the embassy building in the central district of Beirut had also been found during the arrests, he said.

“Several rocket propelled grenades were also found in the area of Majdel Al Anjar in the Western Bekaa valley,” he added.

Initial investigations showed that Mikati had also been targeting the Ukrainian Embassy in Hazmieh, east of Beirut.

Furthermore, the network had developed plans to attack Lebanese posts like the Justice Palace in Beirut, the Security General’s office and the Military Police stations.

“They were also planning to assassinate officials working in Western embassies,” Murr said.

The minister praised the Syrian intelligence forces for their role in the operation against the suspected Al-Qaeda network.

“This is to show that fighting terrorism needs cooperation between countries,” Murr pointed out.

The Italian and German ambassadors to Lebanon, Franco Mistririta and Gunter Kneiss, also praised the cooperation between Lebanon, Syrian and Italy after their meeting with Murr.

“Our embassy is located next to the Lebanese Parliament...this shows that security cannot be 100 percent successful..,” said Mistririta. However, the foiled attack showed “that an atmosphere of stability and security is prevailing in the country,” he added.

Kneiss said international cooperation was necessary in fighting terrorism. Meanwhile, tight security measures were seen around western embassies and their cultural centers in Beirut.