Beirut explosion probe recommences after two years

Beirut

Lebanese judge Tarek Bitar has resumed his investigation on January 16th into the 2020 Beirut port blast, charging 10 people such as security, customs and military personnel, a judicial official has stated.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat via AFP, the new charges come after a two-year pause in the investigation into the explosion that killed over 220 people, injuring thousands and devastating large areas of the city.

Authorities believe the explosion was triggered by a fire in a warehouse containing a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, which was haphazardly stored for a number years.

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Reportedly, nobody has been held responsible for the blast, which was one of history’s biggest non-nuclear explosions.

The probe follows the election of the Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, after the position was left vacant for over two years. Aoun has pledged he will work towards the “independence of the judiciary”.

An anonymous judicial official told AFP that “procedures in the case have resumed.”

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The official went on to say that “a new charge sheet has been issued, charging three employees and seven high-ranking officers in the Lebanese army, in the General Security, (and) in customs” with negligence and “possible intent to commit murder”. Their interrogations are set to begin in February.

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In March and April, “investigating sessions” will resume for those previously charged in the case.

Many individuals and organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, previously called for the United Nations to establish the facts on the disaster.

Despite these calls, the investigation has been stalled several times since 2020.

In December 2020, lead investigator Fadi Sawan charged former prime minister Hassan Diab with negligence.

Despite this, Sawan was eventually removed from the case due to mounting political pressure and the investigation was consequently suspended.

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Sawan’s successor, Bitar, summoned Diab for questioning and requested that parliament to lift the immunity of lawmakers who had served as ministers, but his request had fallen through. The interior ministry also refused to execute the arrest warrants Bitar issued.

 

Asharq Al-Awsat via AFP

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