BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities have arrested a man suspected of being the leader of an Al-Qaeda-linked group and taken DNA samples to crosscheck against family members in Saudi Arabia to confirm his identity, officials said Thursday.

A Lebanese security official close to the investigation said the man, who was arrested Monday, is believed to be Majid Al-Majid, a Saudi citizen and the commander of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades.

The extremist group has claimed responsibility for several bombings, most recently the attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut that killed at least 23 people.

The Saudi ambassador in Beirut told Lebanon’s private LBC TV that the Kingdom was trying to bring DNA samples from Al-Majid’s family to Lebanon for testing. He said the family samples had not been taken yet.

If the tests confirm the man in custody is indeed Al-Majid, then the Kingdom would like him to be repatriated to Saudi Arabia, Asiri said.

Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said in a statement Thursday that Al-Majid is among the Kingdom’s 85 most wanted Al-Qaeda suspects.