The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division issued a statement regarding the unfortunate events that took place in the city of Tripoli.
The National News Agency reported that this statement follows the tragic and unfortunate events in Tripoli on the night of January 27, 2021. The statement added that to prevent any misinterpretation or distortion of the events, the Directorate clarifies that at 15:45, a number of citizens gathered in front of the Tripoli Serail to protest against the deteriorating economic and living conditions and the general lockdown. Escalation began among some participants in the demonstration who started throwing stones and setting fire to the guard room of the Serail and the inspection gate with gasoline. The pace of the rioting increased when a group of young people attempted to enter the Palace of Justice, forcibly opened the main gate, and began throwing stones at the personnel and vehicles parked in front of the Serail.
The statement continued that around 17:00, a number of protesters smashed streetlights and forced open the gate of the new Palace of Justice leading to the vehicle entrance, and that the security forces responsible for maintaining order had not taken any action against those disrupting the peace until that point, despite the attempts to ignite further violence. They then threw an immense number of Molotov cocktails and a significant number of firecrackers and stones at the personnel inside the Serail.
It was emphasized that when the described actions occurred, the officers responded by spraying water and deploying tear gas to disperse the rioters and prevent them from entering the Serail, during which time, several gunshots of unknown origin were heard near a neighboring building. The statement added that the assaults continued until about 20:45 when approximately 200 demonstrators stormed the Serail, throwing Molotov cocktails and burning and destroying vehicles parked in the lot, prompting the forces to again deploy tear gas to push them out.
Further clarifications stated that at 21:15, the demonstration square transformed into a battlefield in every sense, as the rioters escalated their actions by throwing Molotov cocktails, a number exceeding 300, followed by the launch of 3 Russian-made hand grenades towards the entrances of the Serail and the main yard, two of which detonated, resulting in injuries to several officers and personnel and damage to several vehicles.
The statement indicated that following these events, the forces responsible for maintaining security and order took proportionate and lawful escalatory measures in accordance with applicable laws (Article 221 of Law 17) to defensively protect the lives of personnel and the centers they are tasked with guarding, through warning shots fired into the air and the execution of dispersal actions. Nonetheless, some insisted on attacking the personnel, forcing them to fire defensively to protect their lives, coinciding with gunfire of unknown origin fired from outside the Serail.
The statement expressed the Interior Security Forces' regret over the events leading to rioting and criminal acts that resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians and the injury of 41 personnel and officers, 12 of whom were wounded by thrown hand grenades, some sustaining severe injuries and under medical supervision. It underscored that the security forces are not responsible for the deterioration of economic and living conditions in Lebanon, particularly in Tripoli, but remain a hope and guarantee – in this critical and sensitive phase – for the security and freedoms of citizens as well as their rights alongside other military and security institutions, in pursuit of a better tomorrow.
It warned those disrupting public and private properties and assaulting personnel and centers of the security forces that they will be compelled to use all lawful means in accordance with applicable laws to maintain stability and the security of the community and citizens, noting that an investigation is underway, overseen by the competent judiciary.
