BEIRUT: The army arrested Monday a suspect who confessed to being paid to incite strife in the northern city of Tripoli, a statement from the army command issued Thursday said.

The suspect, identified as Ahmad Bassam al-Jajatieh, confessed to tossing explosives in the Tripoli neighborhood of Bab al-Tebbaneh in return for money in order to provoke tension in the region.

Jajatieh also confessed that he and others have tossed hand grenades and dynamite sticks between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen to cause strife between the two areas.

According to the Army statement, a man referred to as Z.S. tasked Jajatieh with the acts and paid him LL20,000 a day in return for his services.

Jajatieh said that he used to throw the explosives while moving around on his motorcycle or while standing at rooftops of buildings in the area.

He added that other offenders, also at the behest of Z.S., would be carrying out similar actions in other neighborhoods.

The Army said that investigations are under way to identify Jatatiyeh’s accomplices and arrest them.

Tripoli has witnessed repeated rounds of confrontations between residents of Bab al-Tabbaneh who strongly support the Syrian rebels fighting the regime and other groups living in pro-Assad Jabal Mohsen.

Although the Army beefed up its presence in the area in accordance with a government plan last year, bombs from unknown offenders are often thrown between the two neighborhoods.