Bride Kidnapped, Groom Assaulted on their Way to Hotel in Bekaa

Three unknown assailants have assaulted a groom and briefly kidnapped his bride in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, the National News Agency reported Sunday.

NNA said that around 3:00 am three men riding a Mercedes assaulted the newlyweds, who were heading in their Kia to Monte Alberto Hotel in Dhour Zahle to spend their honeymoon there.

The assailants hit the groom in his head, took the keys of his car and cell phone, NNA said. He was taken to Tal Shiha hospital.

The three men also kidnapped the bride but returned her to al-Manara square in Zahle a few hours after the adduction, NNA added.

Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) said the groom is a Lebanese army corporal. It identified him as Maroun Shatbawi and said the bride is named Caroline.