Key facts
- A phone book containing names and numbers was found in the abandoned Damascus apartment of Syrian intelligence chief Hussam Luka.
- Luka, known as 'The Spider', is accused of orchestrating atrocities and torture under the Assad regime.
- He is alleged to have been involved in the 'Eid Massacre' in Homs in 2015, which killed 17 children.
- Syria has launched a lawsuit against Luka and is seeking his extradition.
- BBC reporters used the phone book to try and locate Luka, eventually obtaining a contact for his former bodyguard.
In the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's toppling in December 2024, a search of his former intelligence chief Hussam Luka's abandoned luxury apartment in Damascus uncovered a phone book that has become a key tool in the hunt for the fugitive official.
Luka, known as 'The Spider', was one of Assad's most feared enforcers, heading Syria's powerful civilian intelligence agency. He is accused of orchestrating widespread atrocities and systematic torture, leading to sanctions from the UK, US, and EU. His apartment, filled with designer clothes and personal effects, also contained numerous photographs of himself and documents, including a notebook with dozens of names and phone numbers.
During the Syrian civil war, Luka's phone number was reportedly spray-painted on walls in Homs, offering safe passage to some residents fleeing the conflict, while others who contacted him were never seen again. Residents referred to him as 'The Spider' due to his extensive network of informants. He is also alleged to have been responsible for selecting targets in the area during the so-called 'Eid Massacre' in September 2015, which resulted in the deaths of 28 people, including 17 children.
Syria's Attorney General, Hassan al-Turba, confirmed that a lawsuit has been filed against Luka for premeditated murder and torture, with domestic and international warrants being circulated. Meanwhile, BBC reporters attempted to use the phone book to track Luka, contacting many of the listed numbers with little success. One reporter traveled to Syria and used medical appointments as a pretext to meet individuals listed in the book, eventually obtaining a contact for Luka's former bodyguard, Mahmoud, after weeks of effort.
Many Syrians are calling for accountability for former regime officials, with some expressing dissatisfaction with the new government's efforts to bring them to justice. Mohammed Towakatli, whose seven-year-old son was killed in the Eid Massacre, expressed a desire for Luka and other officials to face execution.