AFP
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News from the NOS•today, 12:34
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An armed woman and a group of sympathizers broke into a bank in the Lebanese capital Beirut. She asked that she be allowed to withdraw $ 13,000 from her savings. The woman said she needed money to treat her sister who has cancer.
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Strict withdrawal limits have been in place in Lebanon since 2019. The country has been experiencing a serious economic crisis for years, with two thirds of the population living in poverty. Bank customers can only withdraw around $ 300 at a time. The government wants to prevent people from withdrawing all their money from their accounts and the banking system from collapsing.
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The woman who broke into the bank in Beirut this morning entered the manager’s office and demanded the withdrawal of her savings. She poured gasoline on the floor and threatened to set the building on fire.
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According to eyewitnesses, she left the bank with a plastic bag full of money and ran away. Some of the people accompanying her were arrested as they left the bank building.
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There was already a similar campaign in another bank in Beirut a few weeks ago. A man then asked for $ 30,000 to pay for his father’s surgery. He could only withdraw $ 300, while there was $ 200,000 in his account. The man would eventually receive the $ 30,000. His lawyer immediately denied it, perhaps to prevent further hostage actions.
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