In the video, Hafez can be seen brandishing a handgun. It appears to quickly escalate into a hostage situation, as a man chains the bank’s entrance shut while the rest of the depositors demand to be given their money.
During the ordeal, Hafez went live on her Facebook account, demanding to be given her money. Hours prior to the incident, she had shared a photo of her ailing sister saying, “I promise you I will get you to travel and you will be treated. You will come back and raise your daughter”.
Shortly after news of this broke, Hafez uploaded a status on Facebook saying, “The entire state is under my house and I’m at the airport. See you in Istanbul, ciao”. Sally managed to get $13,000 in cash of her deposit.
Lebanon had witnessed a similar situation just last month when Bassam Sheikh Hussein held employees hostage at Federal Bank in Hamra.
