Lebanese security forces announced Tuesday (July 11th) they have arrested a Lebanese man on charges of belonging to an extremist group, after monitoring the suspect across social media platforms, local media reported.
The suspect, a Lebanese national identified by his initials S.M.F., admitted during interrogations that he had taken part in religious courses outside of Lebanon led by a cleric affiliated with the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), the General Directorate of General Security (GDGS) said in a statement.
He also admitted to playing the violent online game "Boom Beach" and participating in the game’s online threads, in which he discussed sharia with ISIS members.
He admitted to claiming, in these online forums, that he was an official representative of ISIS. He apparently responded to questions from potential recruits – groups and individuals – and encouraged them to join the group.
In these threads, S.M.F. lauded ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
While playing "Boom Beach", the suspect met a man online who had previously been arrested by GDGS for plotting terrorist attacks intended to be carried out at Beirut Souks.
Following interrogations, the suspect was transferred to the judiciary. Work is under way to arrest other suspects involved in the case.
