Sources in direct contact with the events at Zahle Prison have informed "Werna" that four inmates died from smoke inhalation and 16 were injured in a fire that broke out today in Zahle Prison, leading to their transfer to hospitals in the area. According to "Werna," a group of prisoners was preparing to carry out an escape plan and had dug a tunnel-like hole. During their attempt to flee, security forces were on alert and thwarted the escape attempt. In response, the inmates set a fire within the prison, which quickly escalated and became uncontrollable, resulting in fatalities and injuries among the prisoners, who were subsequently taken to local hospitals.
According to the same sources, the fire was brought under control without any escapees. The National News Agency's representative reported four victims thus far due to the prison fire in Zahle. Civil defense personnel used hydraulic cutting tools to rescue the injured. There was also a heavy presence of the army and security forces around the prison building.
In light of the situation, Minister of Interior and Municipalities in the caretaker government, Bassam Mawlawi, monitored the developments and made calls to Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, wishing for support and protection around the prison, and to General Raymond Khattar, Director General of Civil Defense, to reinforce the civil defense units working to extinguish the fire and evacuate the inmates from their rooms. Mawlawi also received a call from the Director General of Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Osman, who updated him on the latest developments. Mawlawi tasked the Governor of Bekaa, Kamal Abu Jaoudeh, with following up on the field measures and what was happening on the ground, particularly regarding the evacuation of prisoners and the treatment of the injured.
**Security Forces Statement**
The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces announced that "around 12:30 PM on 06/10/2023, information was received by the Zahle Prison management via the regional gendarmerie unit about preparations for an escape through a hole in the wall of one of the rooms. Immediately, a force was dispatched to inspect the mentioned room. As they approached the location of the hidden hole inside a wooden closet and covered with a piece of cloth, they faced an obstruction from some inmates present, who detained two officers and a personnel member. After a struggle, the force managed to exit the area."
They continued: "As a result of thwarting the escape preparations, the prisoners began to burn belongings and bedding inside part of the rooms on the second floor, which led to the rapid spread of the fire and thick smoke in that part of the floor. At that point, forces from the mobile units and Zahle detachments arrived and controlled the rioting inside the prison, beginning the rescue of inmates who had been exposed to smoke inhalation. They were transported by civil defense and the Red Cross to local hospitals, and the fire was extinguished."
They added that "as a result of smoke inhalation, three inmates lost their lives:
- Ali Muhammad Al-Masri (born 1977, Lebanese)
- Ibrahim Hamad Al-Alam (born 1986, Lebanese)
- Muhammad Ali Al-Haj Hussein (born 1999, Lebanese)
Sixteen inmates were treated for smoke inhalation and are in stable condition, while an investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the relevant judiciary.
