A killing spree in Baakline, Lebanon left nine people dead and was suspected to be an honour killing.
Key Facts
- Date
- 21 April 2020
- Total killed
- 9 people
- Nationality of victims
- 6 Syrian, 3 Lebanese
- Suspect
- Mazen Harfoush
- Search perimeter
- 20 kilometres around Baakline
- Suspected motive
- Honour killing
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The attack is suspected to have been motivated by honour-based grievances. Mazen Harfoush began the assault at approximately 3:30 p.m. by killing his wife with a knife, suggesting a domestic or family-related trigger underpinning the broader violence that followed.
On 21 April 2020 in Baakline, Chouf District, Mazen Harfoush killed nine people: first his wife with a knife, then eight others by shooting, including his brother Fawzi Harfoush. Six victims were Syrian nationals and three were Lebanese.
Military and local municipal police established a 20-kilometre perimeter around Baakline village during a joint search operation. Harfoush was arrested the same evening. His brother Fawzi, one of the victims, had previously been suspected of being an accomplice in the attack.