On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in the capital city of Lebanon exploded. The explosion caused at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and damaged property worth US$15 billion. It also left about 300,000 people homeless.
Victims’ families gathered in Beirut to call for the investigation to continue into last year’s massive explosion. Officials who are among those accused of criminal negligence have attempted to remove the lead investigator.
Investigation into the disaster has been delayed for the second time this year. The civilians want the lead judge, Tarek Bitar to be removed from the probe. The UN has called for an international probe believing it would be more effective.
The probe was frozen on Monday on the basis of a legal complaint by Nohad Machnouk, a Sunni Muslim lawmaker and former interior minister, whom the lead investigating judge, wants to question on suspicion of negligence.
