ABL: Sunday's Attack Targets Lebanon's Banking Sector
The Association of Banks in Lebanon discussed the latest developments in an extraordinary meeting on Monday and condemned the attack that targeted the HQ of BLOM Bank in the capital a day earlier, an ABL statement said.
“ABL and the Lebanese share condemnation of the bombing that targeted a reputable economic institution, and we believe that this attack has affected the whole banking sector and aims to destabilize the economy,” said the statement.
“Lebanese banks are used to work in a challenging environment, from which they emerged more durable and safe each time,” added the statement.
“Lebanese banks are working in compliance with the highest professional standards and according to the policies in the global markets,” concluded the statement.
“It abides by Lebanese laws to preserve the interest of the Lebanese as a whole.”
“The Association is subject to the applicable Lebanese laws and to the Central Bank's circulars," it said.
The statement came a day after a bombing attack targeted BLOM Bank in the neighborhood of Verdun in Beirut.
According to Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, the bomb contained about 3-4 kilos of explosives and had been “placed behind the back wall of BLOM Bank.”
“It is clear that the bank was the target,” he said.
Veteran Druze politician Walid Jumblat linked the bombing to a law voted in December by the U.S. Congress to impose sanctions on banks that deal with Hizbullah.
In May, Lebanon's central bank instructed the country's banks and financial institutions to comply with the US law.
Hizbullah's parliamentary bloc warned at the time that the move could push Lebanon towards bankruptcy.
Washington has labeled Hizbullah a global terrorist group since 1995, accusing it of a long list of attacks including the bombing of the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983.
BLOM Bank director general Saad al-Azhari told reporters that no threats had been received by the bank ahead of Sunday's blast.
A civil defense official said one person had been lightly wounded in the attack.
almost 9 years
Of course. They have a plan to destroy Lebanon to rebuild "Teheran-on-Sea".
Wlik noooo, it was Israel..didn't you hear? it is ALWAYS Israel, because Hezbollah is an honest and honorable resistance that protects all Lebanese out of the goodness of their pure hearts, just as they did in July 2006 when they helped tourism in Lebanon, just as they did in May 7 when they paid a visit to their Sunni and Druze brothers, just as they continue to do until someone cuts off their heads and rids us of this cancer