Judge Khoury orders release of Federal Bank hostage-taker

Judge Khoury orders release of Federal Bank hostage-taker

Attorney General Judge Ghassan Khoury on Tuesday ordered the release of Federal Bank hostage-taker Bassam al-Sheikh Hussein.

The National News Agency said the decision was taken after the bank dropped the lawsuit against the defendant.

“His papers have been referred to the Beirut investigative judge,” NNA added.

The Depositors Outcry Association had earlier in the day staged a sit-in outside the Justice Palace in Beirut in solidarity with al-Sheikh Hussein, demanding his immediate release and an end to depositors’ plight. They also blocked the road outside the palace for some time.

Al-Sheikh Hussein had entered the bank on Thursday where he held staff hostage for eight hours because he couldn't access funds frozen after the country's economic collapse. Armed with a rifle, he doused the interior of the bank with gasoline.

But after eight hours the standoff ended peacefully.

"Bassam you are a hero!" cheering bystanders chanted outside the bank.

The incident was the latest involving local banks and angry depositors unable to access savings that have been locked in Lebanese banks since the country's economic crisis began in 2019.

Official media said the suspect turned himself in when the bank agreed to give him $35,000 out of his more than $200,000 in trapped savings.

Protesters at the scene