Beirut blast investigator charges Lebanon's public prosecutor

Judge Tarek Bitar unexpectedly resumed his inquiry on Monday after it was halted by high-level political resistance

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  A cloud of smoke and dust rises after part of the grain silos at Beirut's port collapsed on Sunday, days before the country marked the second anniversary of a deadly explosion at the site. AFP

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  The collapse was due to a fire that has been burning since the beginning of July. AP

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  The grain silos were severely damaged in the 2020 explosion at the port that killed at least 190 people. EPA

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  There were no reports of deaths or injuries after the partial collapse. EPA

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  Other parts of the silos that remain standing are at risk of collapsing. Reuters

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  Lebanese activists confront soldiers guarding the entrance of the country's parliament building during a demonstration in Beirut on Thursday. AFP

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  An activist raises her hands during a protest in Beirut on Thursday. EPA

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  Relatives of the victims of the deadly 2020 Beirut port explosion mark the second anniversary of the blast in Beirut, Lebanon. AP

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  Protesters and relatives of the victims of the blast hold up Lebanese flags as they march in Beirut's port area on Thursday. AFP

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  Demonstrators gather as Lebanon marks the second anniversary of the Beirut port explosion. Reuters

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  People hold the Lebanese flag during a march to the Beirut port. EPA

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  People hold portraits of loved ones who died in the explosion. AP

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  Activists and relatives of the victims raise a national flag smeared with red paint during the protest. AFP

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  Activists and relatives of the victims carry makeshift coffins as they march in Beirut. AFP

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  On August 4, 2020, the dockside blast of haphazardly stored ammonium nitrate killed more than 200 people. AFP

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  Lebanese national flags fly at half-mast outside the presidential palace as Lebanon marks the two-year anniversary of the August 2020 Beirut port explosion, in Baabda, Lebanon. Reuters

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  Families of victims of the August 2020 Beirut port explosion attend a mass held by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai as Lebanon marks the two-year anniversary of the explosion, in Beirut Lebanon. Reuters

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  Families of victims of the August 2020 Beirut port explosion attend a mass held by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai as Lebanon marks the two-year anniversary of the explosion, in Beirut Lebanon. Reuters

The Lebanese judge investigating the 2020 Beirut port blast has charged Lebanon's top public prosecutor and three other judges in connection with the explosion, judicial sources said on Tuesday.

Judge Tarek Bitar, who resumed the inquiry on Monday after being impeded by high-level political resistance, charged Prosecutor General Ghassan Oweidat over the explosion, which killed 220 people, Reuters reported.

But the stand-off in Lebanon's heavily politicised judiciary took a fresh turn when Mr Oweidat informed Mr Bitar via letter on Tuesday that the investigation remains suspended. The letter, which a judicial source with knowledge of the situation told The National was authentic, was shared online. Mr Oweidat told The National that Mr Bitar had not informed him of anything, later telling AFP that he had only learned of Mr Bitar's decision "through the media".

Mr Bitar has also charged Hassan Diab, prime minister at the time of the blast, and two other former ministers with homicide with probable intent, court summons stated.

He reopened the investigation on Monday, citing legal studies that challenged its suspension. The investigation has been blocked since late 2021 amid legal challenges from top politicians Mr Bitar wanted to question over the explosion.

Mr Bitar has also charged two high-ranking security officials — the head of General Security Gen Abbas Ibrahim and the head of State Security Gen Tony Saliba.

Mr Bitar has set interrogation sessions for February. Those wanted for questioning also include Jean Kahwaji, the army commander between 2008 and 2017.

On Monday, Mr Bitar ordered the release of five detained suspects.

Mr Bitar has been derided by his critics, including Iran-backed Hezbollah, as politically motivated and close to the US ― although they have not offered evidence to back up this claim. But supporters of the judge, including many of the families of the victims, want him to continue on in the push for justice.

"We've been waiting for this for maybe one year and two months," said Mariana Foudalian, referring to Mr Bitar resuming the investigation. Ms Foudalian lost her 29-year-old sister Gaia in the 2020 explosion. "We all know they were trying to do everything to stop the judge from working," she told The National.

"It's very important that the judge continues. But we will never stop, we will never get afraid, we will continue until the end, until we get justice."

The blast, which injured thousands and levelled or damaged much of the city centre, came after a stockpile of ammonium nitrate — which had been stored at the port for years — caught fire.

The explosion is regarded as a result of decades of mismanagement and corruption in Lebanon, currently grappling with one of the worst economic collapses in modern times.

While numerous officials have admitted to knowing about the ammonium, they claim they requested other officials remove it or make it safe with no clear indication of where final responsibility lay.

"We, in the international community have made it clear since the explosion that we support and urge Lebanese authorities to complete a swift and transparent investigation into the horrific explosion at the Port of Beirut," said Ned Price, US State Department spokesman, on Monday.

"The victims of this explosion in August of 2020 deserve justice. Those responsible must be held accountable."