Gunman Captured After Attack, Lengthy Shootout At US Embassy In Beirut
The American Embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has come under attack Wednesday, and a gunman has been shot by Lebanese security forces after the armed man fired at the embassy. At least one embassy security guard was injured.
The badly wounded suspect was taken into custody following the shootout with soldiers, the military and embassy officials confirmed. Amid still emerging details, it appears to have been an Islamic terror attack, given the assailant had a vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic.
“The Lebanese military in a statement said that soldiers shot an assailant, who they only described as a Syrian national,” Associated Press reports. The gunman is currently in a hospital and in policy custody.
According to more details:
No motive was immediately clear. However, Lebanese media have published photos that appear to show a bloodied attacker wearing a black vest with the words “Islamic State” written in Arabic and the English initials “I” and “S.”
The attack and shootout with security was significant, given eyewitnesses said it lasted nearly half an hour, and involved the man firing an assault rifle toward the embassy from a parking lot across from the diplomatic compound’s entrance.
