The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced that "in the framework of the ongoing efforts by the Internal Security Forces to combat theft operations in various Lebanese areas, and after a surge in recent thefts and vandalism targeting churches in several areas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, perpetrated by unknown individuals, the following incidents were reported: On January 15, 2024, unknown individuals entered St. Zakhia Church in Jbeil and stole the donation box from inside. On January 18, 2024, unknown individuals broke into St. Abda Church in Jal El Dib and rummaged through its belongings without stealing anything. On January 20, 2024, unknown individuals broke into Our Lady of Dwair Church in Fidar and scattered its contents without stealing anything. On January 21, 2024, unknown individuals entered St. Joseph Church in Achrafieh and stole money from the donation boxes. On January 23, 2024, unknown individuals broke into Our Lady of Salvation Church in Qornet Chehouan and vandalized it without stealing anything. On January 24, 2024, unknown individuals broke into St. Ephrem Church in Kfardebian, opened the drawers and cabinets inside the church, and stole an amount of 10 million Lebanese pounds. Social media and news outlets circulated articles about these operations, indicating attempts to sow discord, especially since several of these churches were vandalized and attacked along with their religious symbols.
As a result, the Information Branch was tasked with intensifying technical and field efforts to identify the perpetrators and arrest them. Following inspections of the sites of the stolen churches and comprehensive investigations carried out by the branch, they managed to identify the suspects involved in these operations, which are: A. K. (born in 1996, Syrian), A. H. (born in 1993, Lebanese), and M. A. (born in 1988, Syrian).
The announcement added, "On January 28, 2024, after a precise surveillance operation conducted by the special force of the branch, they were able to arrest the first suspect in Sin El Fil, while the second and third suspects were arrested simultaneously in Ramlet Bayda in the vehicle used by them in the thefts, a white 'Mercedes.'
During the investigation, the first and second suspects confessed to their involvement in committing more than 10 thefts targeting churches in areas such as Jounieh, Jbeil, Baawer, Fidar, Kfardebian, Qornet Chehouan, Jal El Dib, and Achrafieh, in addition to 4 other operations for which no theft claims were filed. The third suspect admitted to being aware of the thefts without participating in them, while the first suspect also mentioned carrying out many thefts inside construction sites within Mount Lebanon. Legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the competent authorities based on the judicial directive."
