Lebanese army finds bomb-laden car near border

State media says vehicle, which carried ‘large amounts’ of explosives, came from Syrian territory; driver flees scene

By AP 16 February 2014, 5:30 pm

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Illustrative photo of Lebanese army soldiers at a checkpoint near the Syrian border, February 2, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Bilal Hussein)

Lebanon’s official news agency said that soldiers have found a bomb-laden vehicle near the border with Syria.

The NNA said Sunday that soldiers’ suspicions were raised after the driver fled the vehicle some 600 meters (one-third of a mile) from an army checkpoint. The agency said military experts subsequently found “a large amount” of explosives in the vehicle. It said the vehicle came from the Syrian Qalamoun area that borders the eastern Lebanese Bekaa Valley.

Officials of the Shiite group Hezbollah, which also patrols the area, said the vehicle held 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of explosives. They spoke on condition of anonymity, because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.

Lebanon has suffered a dozen bombings linked to the three-year conflict in Syria.