A Lebanese man and a Palestinian were arrested earlier today, foiling an attempted terror attack against the US embassy in Beirut: Two men arrested with explosives outside US embassy in Beirut.

An army statement said the pair was arrested at 11:00 am (0900 GMT) at the entrance to the embassy in Awkar, which lies 15 kilometres (nine miles) outside Beirut.

The Lebanese man was arrested before he could make his way past the reception desk, while the Palestinian was nabbed in a car outside the gates of the fortress-like complex that houses some 500 people.

“Questioning of the suspects has begun,” the statement said, adding that the authorities will endeavor to “arrest everyone involved and bring them to justice.”

The army did not identify either of the men, nor did it say whether they had any accomplices. It was not immediately known whether they belong to any political organization.

Security sources said the Lebanese man, who was carrying a package containing sticks of dynamite, was nabbed by embassy security personnel and quickly turned over to the army.

Earlier, an embassy spokesperson said “a man with a suspicious package was arrested outside the entrance gate” of the massive compound, which houses some 500 people.