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A bank in the Lebanese port city of Byblos was also apparently stormed
Photo: Bilal Hussein / dpa / AP
Going to a bank branch and having the savings paid out is no longer possible for many people in Lebanon.
The country is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, and the consequences are causing some people to resort to drastic measures: on Wednesday, an activist stormed a bank with a dummy weapon in order to get her sister's savings.
She stated that she wanted to pay for her cancer treatment.
She withdrew $13,000 — and wasn't the only one.
According to security circles, there were five bank robberies on Friday alone, in which the perpetrators wanted to steal their own savings.
There were a total of seven robberies in one week.
The national currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value as a result of the economic crisis that has lasted for three years.
The Lebanese pound used to be pegged to the dollar, which is why many Lebanese keep accounts in the US currency.
However, with the country running out of foreign exchange, they are very limited in their ability to withdraw dollars from their bank.
Large sections of the population have slipped into poverty.
»Lebanese banks are stealing our money«
Chaotic scenes took place in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday.
"I'm staying until I get my rights," a man in the bank yelled.
"Lebanese banks are stealing our money," shouted another.
A crowd had gathered in front of the bank, activists apparently called for the storming of the branch - if necessary with violence.
Shortly before, a man in the city of Ghasijeh in the south of the country had extorted his own frozen money with his son.
Media reports speak of a toy gun.
The bank robber eventually fled with around $19,000 in cash but turned himself in to police the same day.
Tens of thousands of US dollars were also extorted from the other raids.
All banks remain closed
The Lebanese Banking Association then announced on Friday that all bank branches in the country would remain closed from Monday to Wednesday.
The Home Secretary met with the security authorities for an emergency meeting to "take the necessary security measures."
Critics accused the banks of acting like a cartel and siphoning large sums of money out of the country for senior Lebanese officials.
Foreign transfers are already no longer possible for normal citizens.
ves/dpa/AFP