Lebanese police have killed the deputy commander of al-Qaeda inspired militants entrenched in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, the government said Monday. Abu Hureira died a few days ago by police in the northern port city of Tripoli, near the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp where Fatah Islam fighters have been clashing with Lebanese soldiers for more than two months, said Information Minister Ghazi Aridi.
"Cabinet was informed by Interior Minister Hassan Sabei that Lebanese security forces have killed the Fatah Islam's No. 2 in the Abu Samra neighborhood" in Tripoli, Aridi told reporters following a Cabinet meeting.
According to the AP, a senior police official said Abu Hureira was one of two men on a motorcycle who opened fire on a police checkpoint in Abu Samra. Police fired back, killing one and wounding the other.
The official noted the wounded man disclosed during interrogation that his companion was Abu Hureira. He said DNA tests also indicated that Abu Hureira, and his parents provided a positive identification.
The whereabouts of Abu Hureira, a Lebanese whose real name is Shehab al-Qaddour, had been unknown since fighting at the Nahr el-Bared camp erupted on May 20. Fatah Islam leader Shaker Youssef Absi's whereabouts are still unknown.
The police official said it was not clear how or when Abu Hureira had fled Nahr el-Bared or how long he had been in Tripoli.
