Around 40 individuals will stand trial next month on charges of shooting on New Year’s Eve.
Brig. Gen. Munir Shehadeh, the head of the Permanent Military Court, set a session on the first of February to try the detainees, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.
They will be tried in reference to Article 75 of the Lebanese Weapons Law, which states:
“Whoever fires in populated places or in a crowd, using a licensed or unlicensed weapon, shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine, or one of these two penalties, and the weapon is confiscated in all cases.”
The Lebanese authorities took swift action against celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve a couple of weeks ago.
Despite the repeated warnings not to engage in the illegal, deadly act, accompanied by the freezing of civilian firearm licenses, prior to the event, many people across the country opened fire into the air as January 1st rolled around.
The heavy gunfire sent stray bullets flying down into cars, buildings, and even planes at Beirut Airport, causing material damage as well as injuries and a fatality.
In the following days, the Internal Security Forces cracked down on identified shooters and arrested them, urging citizens who have evidence against others who opened fire on New Year’s Eve to submit it to help identify and arrest them.
