Peru News: Hezbollah Terrorist Group Member May Have Targeted Lima Climate Change Conference, Jorge Chavez Airport
Peruvian anti-terrorist police have arrested a Lebanese national, who is part of Hezbollah, in the capital city. The man initially lied about his nationality but later confessed to being part of the terrorist group.
The 28-year-old Lebanese national named Mohammed Amadar, also known as Mohammed Galeb Hamdar, was arrested on Oct. 30 in the Peruvian capital of Lima, according to the Peruvian newspaper La Republica. The anti-terrorism division of Peru's national police arrested him on suspicion of being a Hezbollah terrorist planning attacks in Peru. Mossad, Israel's intelligence group, informed Peruvian police and intelligence officials of the man's entry into the country.
Amadar entered Peru in November 2013 and soon after married a naturalized Peruvian citizen of American birth named Carmen Carrion Vela in the Peruvian Amazon. Police questioned him at the airport but released him a few hours after; however, they kept him under surveillance until his arrest in the Lima's Surquillo neighborhood.
Amadar raised suspicions because he arrived in Peru via Brazil. Intelligence reports warn of the Triple Frontier between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina where there is suspected terrorist presence.
Subsequent investigation showed Amadar used the cover story of being a bodybuilder and visited a local gym often, reports La Republica. Police discovered traces of explosive construction material, including detonators and TNT, in his garabage. He was living alone in Lima as his wife had traveled to the U.S.
Following his arrest, he told police he was from Sierra Leone, but his passport betrayed his Lebanese nationality, according to the Andina News Agency. He eventually admitted to being part of the group
According to RPP, the government prosecutor Wendy Calero said Amadar had been sent to obtain information about sensitive locations in Peru for Hezbollah. Police found in his apartment photos of "strategic zones of the Jorge Chavez airport" as well as photos of popular tourist restaurants and houses. They believe there may have been something related to the climate change summit recently hosted in Lima.
Concerning his supposed wife, the prosecutor said Carrion and Amadar organized a fake marriage for which she received money from Hezbollah.
Amadar has been placed in custody for 18 months until his trial, according to Peru's Public Ministry.
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