Syria hands over man suspected of bomb attacks on fast food outlets

SYRIA has handed over to neighbouring Lebanon a man suspected of belonging to a gang blamed for a string of bomb attacks against Western fast food outlets, a senior judicial official said yesterday.

Lebanese officials have said members of the network attacked fast food restaurants, including McDonald’s and Pizza Hut, and that they also planned to kill US ambassador Vincent Battle in the northern city of Tripoli. However, the official said the man turned over from Syria, a Lebanese citizen, had no direct links to the Battle plot. His brother, an army draftee, was also being held over the restaurant blasts.

Palestinian and Lebanese security sources said authorities had arrested three Palestinians suspected of links to the bomb attacks. They were taken overnight in a security clampdown as they tried to enter the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in Tripoli.