Lebanon restarts probe into Beirut port explosion
January 23, 2023
The judge investigating the Beirut port explosion resumed work after a nearly 13-month long halt on Monday, according to judicial officials.
In restarting work on the probe, judge Tarek Bitar ordered the release of five detained suspects and announced plans to charge others, including top security officials. Judicial sources speaking to media did not identify which officials would be charged.
Why was the probe paused?
Bitar's work had been blocked since December 2021 after three former cabinet ministers filed complaints in Lebanon's highest court. The investigation into the blast has been hampered by political resistance over attempts to summon top officials for questioning.
The complaints against Bitar have been filed mainly by members of Lebanese political factions. For example, Lebanon's powerful Shiite political group Hezbollah has demanded Bitar step down from the investigation.
Bitar is the second judge assigned to the investigation. Prior to him, Fadi Sawwan, the first judge, was removed after two cabinet ministers complained of bias.
No state official has yet been held accountable for the blast, which killed over 200 people and destroyed entire districts of Beirut.
The explosion was blamed on the improper storage of hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the port, which led to several officials being summoned on charges of negligence.
los/wmr (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)