[LCM Articles] Syrian arrested for 2003 Future TV blast

[Michel Rbeiz]

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=15393#

Thursday, May 26, 2005
Syrian arrested for 2003 Future TV blast
Intelligence officer held in Baghdad admits to attack

Daily Star staff



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.

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
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