Jihadi son stuns Lebanese Christian family

(MENAFN- Arab News) Mejdalaya Lebanon: When Lebanese authorities announced the arrest last week of three alleged jihadis planning suicide bomb attacks Elie Warraq's family was stunned to see his name among the accused.Warraq 22 would hardly be the only young man in Lebanon lured to the ranks of extremists but he appears to be the first Christian.Choking back tears at the family home in the northern village of Mejdalaya Warraq's father Tony said his relatives were devastated.'We were so shocked when we heard the news I haven't slept since. It's my son!' Warraq's father Tony told AFP chain-smoking cigarettes as he sat near a Christmas tree and a table mounted with a small cross.Warraq's case appears to be the first time in Lebanon that a Christian has converted to Islam and joined a jihadi group. On Thursday the Lebanese Army announced it had thwarted 'a plan to implement a series of suicide attacks' and arrested three people including Warraq who was going by the name 'Abu Ali.''They were preparing to carry out terrorist attacks against army posts and residential areas and were using falsified Syrian and Palestinian identity documents' the army said.'The investigation found they had pledged allegiance to terrorist organizations and participated in fighting in Syria and attacks against the army' it added. It gave no information on which group Warraq and the others had joined or details on their planned attacks.Warraq's family are well-known devout Christians in northern Lebanon which has seen increasing jihadi violence particularly against the army as the conflict in neighboring Syria spills across the border.The family supports the army and Warraq's 20-year-old brother Michael is a soldier making his arrest even more distressing.'I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy' Tony Warraq said. 'Whenever I see on television that people are blowing up churches and mosques in Iraq and Syria I wonder 'How could a human do such a thing''But to hear your son is in the same category is very difficult. Am I hallucinating I still can't believe it.'Warraq initially followed his father into the construction business after finishing high school and twice worked as a policeman before quitting. His family says that about 18 months ago Warraq began to stay away from home for long periods spending time in the nearby city of Tripoli where several jihadi groups have a presence.