The Lebanese army arrested three individuals on Tuesday in the eastern town of Younine, located in the Baalbeck region, in connection with celebratory gunfire that killed a civilian following recent municipal elections. The suspects were detained at their homes, according to a statement released by the army.
The arrests are part of a broader nationwide effort to curb the illegal but widespread practice of firing weapons into the air to celebrate election results and other events. The army previously reported that 86 people had been detained last Friday for shooting into the air after municipal elections held on May 4 and 11 in Mount Lebanon and Northern Lebanon.
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In response to rising concerns over public safety, authorities have suspended all firearm permits in Beirut, the Bekaa, and Baalbeck-Hermel. The suspension covers the day before, the day of, and the two days following Sunday’s round of elections.
Despite being illegal, celebratory gunfire remains common in Lebanon and has often turned deadly. Research by Beirut-based Information International found that stray bullets killed an average of seven people and injured 15 others annually between 2010 and 2021.