The Ghana Police have arrested Osman Brustani, a Labanese who was spotted in a viral video in which he was captured threatening a shopkeeper at Osu, Accra.
According to the Police in a statement, the suspect is in its custody and will be taken through the due process of the law.
Before the arrest, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare reached out to the victim, Tuesday, 12th April 2022 via a telephone call and he seemed traumatized by the incident.
The Police said as a result of the IGP’s instruction, the victim has been given psychological support by a clinical psychologist from the Police Hospital, as the IGP also followed up with a personal visit to the victim today, Wednesday, 13th April 2022.
‘’We wish to assure the public that, in line with our mandate, we will continue to ensure law and order in the country. We, therefore, seek your continued support in this endeavor’’ the Police added in the statement.
The suspect’s arrest was made on Wednesday after Lebanon’s Embassy in Accra issued a statement calling on the Police to arrest him.
He was seen in an undated video, holding sharp sword in attempts to attack an unidentified shop owner.
The Lebanese man reportedly parked his car in front of the keeper’s shop at Osu for almost an hour.
Subsequently, when the shop owner finally told the Lebanese to park his car well so that he would have a good business, the Lebanese started to abuse him verbally and also threatened to kill him with a sword.
He was heard screaming: “come out”, “come out”, “I will cut your neck”, as he held the weapon, putting lives in jeopardy.
Despite appeals from bystanders, the angry man further dragged the tip of the sword attempting to attack the victim.
The shopkeeper who fears for his life has no option but to run into another shop for cover.
The video widely shared online has attracted widespread condemnation as calls mount for action.
However, the Lebanese Embassy reacting to the incident in a post on its Facebook page said: “We reject all forms of violence and intimidation, as well as anyone who does not treat the people of the host country with respect and by applicable laws.
“We call on the competent authorities to conduct the necessary investigations and to take appropriate measures against the offender”, the Embassy added.
-BY Daniel Bampoe