Unknown assailants attack several banks in Lebanon

SANAA, April 26 (YPA) – Lebanese banks in various regions witnessed several attacks on Saturday, the first of its kind since the start of the recent financial and economic crisis in Lebanon, after the exchange rate of the national currency fell within a day by 10% of its value and banks refused to hand over their deposits to people.

Lebanon’s Elnashra news agency reported  that an explosion had targeted the Francebank on Riyadh Asolh Street in the southern Lebanese city of Sayda.

During the investigation, the Lebanese authorities indicated that the explosion was caused by unknown assailants throwing a large explosive device that damaged the entire bank’s façade.

In the same vein, at dawn on Sunday, unknown assailants threw three Molotov cocktails at a bank in the southern Lebanese city of Sur “Tyre”.

The bank’s exterior glass façade crashed as army and security forces came to the scene and opened an investigation into the incident.

Groups calling themselves the Armed Revolution Court have claimed responsibility  for the attacks, threatening bankers and their families.

The attack comes a day after Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced that $5.7 billion had been removed from banks during the first two months of this year, despite tight restrictions on the withdrawal of dollars or transfers abroad.

E.M