BEIRUT
By Hamza Takeen
One of two suicide bombers involved in Tuesday's twin blasts targeting the Iranian embassy in Beirut have been identified, a security source said Friday.
The bomber was identified as Moeen Abu Dahr after his father, Adnan Abu Dahr, recognized a photo released by security forces of one of the two bombing suspects.
Adnan said that his son, who had gone missing months before, had phoned his family days ago from Syria, asking his parents to "forgive" him, the source,requesting anonymity, told Anadolu Agency.
The father is currently being questioned by Lebanese intelligence agencies.
A DNA test will also be conducted to determine whether the bomber's remains belong to his son.
A source with the family said that Moeen had left for Sweden years ago before moving to Syria to fight with opposition forces fighting the Bashar al-Assad regime.
He then returned home to Sidon in Lebanon, where he joined supporters of controversial preacher Ahmed al-Aseer, an outspoken critic of the regime in Damascus.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said that 25 people, including the Iranian cultural attaché, were killed and 147 injured in Tuesday's twin bombings near the Iranian embassy in Beirut.
An al-Qaeda affiliate group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left several nearby buildings and vehicles damaged.
Military involvement by Hezbollah and Iran in al-Assad's ongoing conflict with armed rebel groups in Syria has drawn condemnation from Sunni-Muslim quarters both inside and outside Lebanon.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
