Syrian-Australian suspect arrested in north Lebanon

BEIRUT – Lebanese authorities have arrested a dual Syrian-Australian national in northern Lebanon on suspicion of terrorism, Lebanese security officials said Monday.

The man, identified as Mark Eddie Maximus, was arrested by military intelligence in the northern city of Tripoli over the weekend. He was picked up after authorities tracked the car he was driving.

One official speaking to The Associated Press said authorities had been pursuing Maximus for a while on suspicion of funding a terrorist organization. He declined to elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

A local newspaper, the Daily Star, said the man was suspected of ties to the Islamic State group and had entered Tripoli around a week ago to prepare for an attack. It said authorities are pursuing another woman in the city who is suspected of working with the militant group.

The Lebanese army has been fighting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida’s Syrian branch, the Nusra Front, in border areas close to Syria.