Maha Al-Azar
Daily Star staff

Dozens of Metn MP Michel Murr’s followers reportedly ambushed Gabriel Murr supporters on their way to Naccashe to celebrate his by-election victory at MTV headquarters Tuesday night.
Eye-witnesses said traffic was backed-up along the Zalka Highway at about 9pm, and they could see some Internal Security Forces (ISF) personnel on the scene.
“But we could not figure out what was happening,” said one.
Pamela Abu Jaoude, a young teenager who was assaulted by alleged Michel Murr supporters, looked traumatized as she recounted her story to Gabriel Murr at the MTV headquarters after midnight.
“There were about a hundred young men who were smashing our cars and beating us. About 10 charged me,” she said. “There were some ISF members, but they were largely outnumbered and although they tried to keep the assailants away from us, they couldn’t.
“They also pulled out my brother and told him: ‘Say that Michel Murr won.’ But he didn’t answer and so they started beating him up,” she added.
Abu Jaoude and her friends Dany and George Daoud showed their injuries to Gabriel Murr at the television station.
“They used knives, pipes and sticks,” said Dany Daoud.
The Daily Star could verify that at least three cars were smashed and at least 10 Gabriel Murr supporters showed signs of injuries.
According to one Gabriel Murr supporter, the army managed to round up about eight assailants when it arrived at the scene “some time after the assaults took place.”
The newly elected MP blamed the ISF for failing to protect his supporters, following
a visit with Beirut Archbishop Elias Aoude Wednesday.
“We contacted the security forces and we did not get any response,” gabriel Murr said. “It was the army who saved the situation. When the army arrived on the scene ­ a bit late ­ tens of cars were already smashed and young 20-25-year-old men and women beaten.”
Gabriel Murr denied reports that his supporters went to taunt Michel Murr’s followers.
“These claims were (circulated) to cover up the act,” he added.

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