BEIRUT: Militant Sheikh Omar Bakri Fustoq, wanted by authorities for his alleged role in north Lebanon clashes, was arrested Sunday in Aley, the National News Agency said.
Fustoq was apprehended at dawn from a house owned by a man identified as Hamad Abu Lteif, the state-run agency reported.
The sheikh had fled his home in the northern city of Tripoli before the Lebanese Army and security forces launched a security plan to restore law and order to the city, which was plagued by several rounds of clashes linked to the crisis in Syria.
Fustoq’s residence was one of the first houses the military raided in search of wanted suspects.
Fustoq is thought to be close to Al-Qaeda, and recently called for the group’s black flag to be flown over the Baabda presidential palace.
Born in Syria, Fustoq lived in Britain for many years, where he helped found the Hizb ut-Tahrir party. Upon arrival in Lebanon in 2005 he was informed by the British government that he could not return.
The Tripoli-based preacher has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, urging the radical Syrian rebel group to “reactivate its cells” in Lebanon.
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