Dangerous terrorist Sami Al-Atrash, wanted in connection with car bomb attacks in Lebanon, was killed Thursday in a shootout as security forces tried to arrest him

Dangerous terrorist Sami Al-Atrash, wanted in connection with car bomb attacks in Lebanon, was killed Thursday in a shootout as security forces tried to arrest him.

Atrash died of severe wounds during a fire exchange with a Lebanese Army patrol that was raiding his house in Arsal, according to the National News Agency (NNA). He died on his way to a nearby hospital.

If he survived, Atrash would have faced many charges considering the many arrest warrants issued against him.

An army statement said the army intelligence had tracked Sami al-Atrash to a hideout in the town of Arsal near the Syrian border and closed in on him Thursday afternoon.

"Atrash opened fire on an army patrol as it conducted its search, (soldiers) fired back and he subsequently died of his wounds," the statement added.

A security source told AFP that the man, in his forties, had "been hit in the stomach by several bullets and died in hospital". Atrash was wanted for "preparing car bombs, firing rockets and mortars at Lebanese towns and villages, kidnapping civilians and involvement in the murder of four" people.