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Hostage Update: Depositors Protest in Solidarity with Armed Man
An armed man has been holding people hostage at Federal Bank in Hamra since approximately 12:00 PM today .
According to the NNA , the man is said to be in possession of gasoline in addition to his weapon. He has threatened to burn himself and shoot the bank’s employees, and is demanding that he be handed over his deposits, estimated to be up to $210,000.
The 42 year old man, who’s brother is also said to have $500,000 stuck in the bank, has justified his actions by explaining that his father is in the hospital and in need of $50,000 worth of treatment.
The President of the Lebanese Depositors Association, Hassan Moghnieh entered the bank to negotiate with the depositor, but no agreement to free the hostages was reached. According to L’Orient Today, Moghnieh had stated during an interview with Al-Jadeed on Thursday that “what was taken by force can only be taken by force.”
The man’s brother stated that he would hand himself over to the authorities once he receives his deposits. Security forces, including the military and security forces’ intelligence branches are said to be on the scene.
Depositors went down to Federal Bank in Hamra to protest in solidarity with the man inside the bank.
Hassan Moghnieh has declared that he has been commissioned by the hostage taker to go to the headquarters of the Lebanese Association of Banks and Federal Bank and negotiate on his behalf. Adding that the depositor is ready to take unimaginable steps if he doesn’t receive his deposits.
والد المودع المسلح موجود في المستشفى ويحتاج علاجًا بقيمة ٥٠ ألف دولار
— جمعية المودعين اللبنانيين (@Lebdepositors) August 11, 2022
According to the NNA , the man is said to be in possession of gasoline in addition to his weapon. He has threatened to burn himself and shoot the bank’s employees, and is demanding that he be handed over his deposits, estimated to be up to $210,000.
The 42 year old man, who’s brother is also said to have $500,000 stuck in the bank, has justified his actions by explaining that his father is in the hospital and in need of $50,000 worth of treatment.
The President of the Lebanese Depositors Association, Hassan Moghnieh entered the bank to negotiate with the depositor, but no agreement to free the hostages was reached. According to L’Orient Today, Moghnieh had stated during an interview with Al-Jadeed on Thursday that “what was taken by force can only be taken by force.”
عشرات المودعين يصلون الى محيط بنك فدرال للتضامن مع المودع الموجود داخله
— جمعية المودعين اللبنانيين (@Lebdepositors) August 11, 2022
The man’s brother stated that he would hand himself over to the authorities once he receives his deposits. Security forces, including the military and security forces’ intelligence branches are said to be on the scene.
Depositors went down to Federal Bank in Hamra to protest in solidarity with the man inside the bank.
Hassan Moghnieh has declared that he has been commissioned by the hostage taker to go to the headquarters of the Lebanese Association of Banks and Federal Bank and negotiate on his behalf. Adding that the depositor is ready to take unimaginable steps if he doesn’t receive his deposits.