Lebanon: Bank Employees Demand Stricter Security Measures After Hostage Standoff

Lebanon: Bank Employees Demand Stricter Security Measures After Hostage Standoff

Bank staff in Lebanon have called for extra security measures after a man took hostages and threatened to blow up a branch in Bekaa Valley this week.



Lebanese security forces arrested Abdullah Al-Saii on Tuesday after the incident at the Bank of Beirut and Arab Countries branch in Jeb Jannine as he attempted to withdraw $50,000 of his own money.



Armed with a gun, a grenade and bottles of benzene when he stormed into the bank, Al-Saii said the bank staff had rejected his requests to withdraw his money on previous occasions, blaming it on the economic crisis in the country.



Al-Saii held more than 10 of the bank’s staff and customers hostage for several hours, demanding he be allowed to withdraw the money. He said he would blow up the branch if his demands were not met. The building was cordoned off and the standoff was resolved following negotiations.



The incident has triggered fear among banking staff in Lebanon, who have called for beefed-up safety.



Lebanese bank clerk Hana Saleem was asked by her parents to quit her banking job or work remotely following the incident.



“After bank staff and clients were taken hostage at a bank in Bekaa Valley, my folks felt scared for