2020, shows a damaged house in the neighbourhood of Ashrafieh of
the Lebanese capital Beirut’s eastern suburbs, a day after a
devastating blast at the port of Lebanese’s capital, in Israel’s
latest gesture towards a country with which it is technically at
war.(Photo by Janine HAIDAR / AFP)
Sixteen staff members at Beirut’s port, the site of a
massive explosion, have been detained over the deadly blast that
devastated large parts of the city, a military prosecutor said
Thursday.
Lebanese authorities had announced an investigation into
Tuesday’s explosion, which they said was triggered by a fire
igniting 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at
Beirut’s port.
Lebanon’s foreign minister said on French radio Thursday that an
investigating committee had been given four days to determine
responsibility for the blast, which killed more than 130 people and
wounded at least 5,000.
Military prosecutor Fadi Akiki said in a statement that 18
staffers at Beirut’s port had been called in for questioning, 16 of
whom remain in custody pending further investigations.
They include port and customs officials as well as maintenance
workers and their managers, Akiki said.
His statement came as an official confirmed to AFP that the
central bank had ordered an asset freeze for seven port and customs
officials, including Badri Daher, director-general of Lebanon’s
customs authority.
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The official spoke on the condition of anonimity because he is
not authorised to speak on the issue.
A banking source confirmed to AFP that all the country’s
commercial banks recieved the order, which also lifts banking
secrecy from accounts owned or linked to those in question.
Even as they counted their dead and cleared streets of debris,
many Lebanese were boiling with anger over a blast they see as the
most shocking expression yet of their leadership’s
incompetence.
Macron delivers his speech during a press conference in Beirut on
August 6, 2020, two days after a massive explosion devastated the
Lebanese capital. Thibault Camus / POOL / AFP
Many have raised questions as to how such a huge cargo of highly
explosive material could have been left unsecured for years.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Lebanon on
Thursday, called for an international enquiry, echoing demands
widely supported in Lebanon and abroad for an independent
probe.
AFP
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