EPA
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 19:45
The suspects detained for their involvement in the explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut in 2020 must be released. That has been decided by the public prosecutor of the country. Seventeen people were still in custody, including the port director.
This step reduces the chance that someone will be held responsible for the explosion. The investigation into the explosion was resumed by the investigating judge at the beginning of this week after a long time. The investigation was halted for thirteen months because it was opposed by the political elite.
Ministers and MPs filed complaints against the investigating judge, following his request to hear them. He halted the investigation when he was sued for libel. Hezbollah, a political party and militia, repeatedly asked for the judge’s resignation. Yet, against the wishes of senior politicians, he has returned to work.
In August 2020, the huge explosion took place in the port of the capital, when a large amount of ammonium nitrate caught fire in a grain silo. At least 220 people were killed and more than 6,000 injured. Much of the center was destroyed. Many attribute the disaster to the corruption and negligence of the political elite, which has plunged the country into a deep economic crisis in recent years.
No person responsible for the explosion has yet been identified. The investigating judge did indict former president Diab yesterday, as well as the head of the secret service and two former ministers. They would have known about the explosive charge in the port. The chances are small that they will actually be prosecuted.
Human rights organization Human Rights Watch previously established in a report that President Diab was aware of the explosive charge in the grain silo. Relatives and human rights organizations have been calling for an international investigation for some time, but that has not happened so far. The fear is that the investigation in Lebanon will lead nowhere.
Middle East correspondent Daisy Mohr from Beirut:
“For the relatives it came as a welcome surprise that the investigating judge would resume his work. They have been waiting for answers for more than two years. The families of the victims have many questions and are on their own. It is still not clear exactly who behind this and who exactly was responsible for this huge explosion in the port.
The relatives were so pleasantly surprised, so disappointed they were today. The families say: this is another illustration of the political corruption, of the failure of the state and of Lebanon. The families have been ignored by the government from the start. They regularly take to the streets with images of their loved ones, after which several relatives have been arrested.
It is courageous that the examining magistrate resumed his work after being thwarted. He has summoned a slew of politicians for questioning. Most never showed up. They receive an arrest warrant, but the ministers invent excuses.”
