On day 92, protests erupt against police brutality and leaked cabinet line-up
- Protesters descended upon the Central Bank in Hamra and Nejmeh Square in downtown Beirut in the evening against the violence of the night before at the Helou barracks. Others also gathered at the BDL branch in Tyre, chanting: “Molotov, instead of a candle, molotov.”
- Rumors swirling around the cabinet line—up, allegedly made up of political advisers, provoked outrage among protesters. The Ring was consequently blocked, and burning tyres and trash cans blocked Cola, Verdun, Corniche al Mazraa, and al—Bahsas.
- Students in Jounieh blocked roads in the morning and were met with excessive force by security forces. Demonstrators in Hasbaya and Beirut also targeted their Electricité du Liban branches.
56 arrested in violent crackdown in Mar Elias the night before
- The Lawyers’ Committee for the Defense of Protesters recorded 56 arrests made in front of the Helou barracks in Mar Elias on Wednesday evening. Around a thousand protesters had gathered to pressure the release of 58 individuals who had been arrested Tuesday night during violent police crackdown in Hamra.
- Police shot tear gas and rubber bullets in Mar Elias, and journalists were attacked—some while on the air. Over thirty protesters were injured, one of whom experienced temporary eyesight and memory loss.
- All but around 9 protesters were released. Some who remain in custody are foreigners and have been referred to General Security.
Hassan and Othman sorry for police brutality, but stand by security forces
- Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities Raya el Hassan expressed her condemnation for the excessive force used against journalists at the Helou barracks. Hassan met members of the Alternative Syndicate for Journalists who had gathered in front of the Interior Ministry to protest the violence.
- Hassan assured protesters that no order was given for the violent behavior and acknowledged that security forces have been stretched thin since the revolution’s start.
- In a press conference, the head of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, also regretted the violence carried out against journalists but condemned the “great violence” security forces had experienced since October 17.
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