Partamian recovers in hospital.[/caption]BEIRUT: At least 10 people, mostly Syrian nationals, were wounded inBeirutWednesday when assailants wielding knives attacked a bus carrying hired extras for an Iranian-produced television program, security sources said. The extras were to sit in the audience for the filming of a game show for the upcoming Ramadan season titled Al-Ribh Bi Idak (You Can Win), commissioned by the Iran-based iFilm channel, which recently launched in Arabic.
The attack took place on the highway near Jisr al-Wati in the morning after two buses departed from Burj Hammoud carrying a total of some 60 extras. The attackers followed the buses, which were not carrying any special markings indicating the identity of the production company, in two four-wheel drive vehicles until they reached the stretch of highway over the flea market at Souq al-Ahad, just before a largely empty industrial district.
According to eyewitnesses, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, the cars managed to cut off one of the buses, forcing it to stop. Then, around a half-dozen men boarded the bus and began to beat the passengers with fists and knives.
One person reported hearing the assailants asking for the agent who had contracted the extras, Movses Partamian, who was also on the bus, by name.
At first I thought it was a personal dispute, said one of the injured individuals. I didnt even feel myself get stabbed but then I looked down and my arm was covered in blood.
Others disputed this version, claiming the men said nothing before launching their attack.
Another witness, a young Syrian man who was still wearing the suit that he thought he might appear on television in, said he heard the men shouting and swearing at them but was too overwhelmed to take in what they were saying.
He described the attackers as large and muscular.
The injured, who were taken to the nearbyMount Lebanon HospitalandSt. Joseph Hospitalfor treatment, included Syrians and at least one Palestinian. Most of the injuries were light, but Partamian required surgery for a deep gash on his arm.
Speaking to journalists from his hospital bed in Mount Lebanon Hospital, Partamian, a Syrian-Armenian, said he suspected the attack was motivated by professional competition.
We were on our way to film; they stopped us, got out of their car, boarded the bus and started attacking us. Thats the whole story, he said.
We have nothing to do with politics, Partamian insisted.
Partamian confirmed that the show had been commissioned for iFilm, an Iranian channel, but did not believe this played a role in the attack.
He also denied he was personally targeted, adding that he did not intend to take legal action.
None of the injured appeared to know much about the company that had hired them, or about the show they had been on their way to film when they were attacked.
All I know is that I get paid for a days work, one person remarked in response to a question about the production company.
Early reports indicated the attack may have been politically motivated, either for the nationality of the workers or the channel that hired them, but the circumstances appeared to leave open the possibility of a personal or professional grievance.
A photographer who arrived on the scene immediately following the attack observed that a picture ofSt. Charbelwas hanging in the windshield of the chartered bus, suggesting the incident was not a spontaneous xenophobic attack targeting Syrian or Iranian interests.
By The Daily Star
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
