<a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15393#">http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15393#</a><br>
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Thursday, May 26, 2005<br>Syrian arrested for 2003 Future TV blast<br>Intelligence officer held in Baghdad admits to attack<br><br>Daily Star staff<br><br> <br><br>BEIRUT:
A Syrian intelligence officer detained in Baghdad has admitted to
launching the missile attack on the late premier Rafik Hariri's Future
Television in June 2003, according to Al-Rai al-Aam Kuwaiti newspaper.
In an article published on Wednesday, the newspaper said Hussein Ahmad
Tah, 32, was arrested by Iraqi police when he was attempting to
assassinate employees in an Iraqi public institution. Following his
arrest, Tah decided to admit to his previous crimes, among which is the
Future TV bombing.<br><br>Tah said he worked for Syrian intelligence
services, adding that he worked for a long time in Lebanon where he
perpetrated several attacks. He then moved to Iraq, where he committed
several attacks against mosques and Iraqi civilians. Security sources
in Iraq said that Tah recounted the details of the attack on Future TV.
The television station, situated near Raouche in Beirut, was attacked
on June 15, 2003, resulting in the destruction of one of the newsrooms.
No casualties were reported. The attack was considered as a message to
then-owner of the station, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Sources
said the car used to perpetrate the crime was stolen in 1997 and hidden
in a garage until the date of the attack. A previously unknown group
called Jamaat Ansar Allah had held itself responsible for the attack in
a statement issued the next day. However, Tah told Iraqi police that
the group did not exist and that he had written and issued the
statement. - The Daily Star