![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XWLGAVN2HHXYWVKKHDCKIBXUX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b3d4101324097f1d29caf816dc54e3451b46293a11cd4dbbaf8b4b6746326c9&width=400&height=225)
Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
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Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
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The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
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The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
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A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
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Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
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Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
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Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
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Army personnel around entrance to port.
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The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
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Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
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People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
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Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
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Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
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People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
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Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DVRAFONGFS2IV7EZ2U2CXJNRXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=170061b75a1fa3f9a7fb8a69334b4bc7d5238018cab2f1ea8077fa42c2eb4a04&width=400&height=225)
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP
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The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
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A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP
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The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HXY7WK7MORSYR2GM26QOYXXYTM.jpg?smart=true&auth=cbeaf87edeb14b40747d3971d83150b22296fa1021045af06b68ef22a00c5b96&width=400&height=225)
A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg
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Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2SE33I3FSRG6KTKMXLKCUUXIKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7feadef84fc8775999228eecc40b7147003650345f60dd15eb797fa7259f5d1d&width=400&height=225)
Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F3R6DCNZ3V4RVQIWN424MHW4MI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2097420f2c0734cf6322d4471d26e3ee39aeceff687d151749ace31ac31383c6&width=400&height=225)
Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7MX6I3RV4BK6JZQBYU57MCKRLE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fb3a0850171f027dddea81ce587ca03495b1e1523b8d18325eb8bac6cabcfad1&width=400&height=225)
People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP
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The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou
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Army personnel around entrance to port.
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The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NACRZRYSJ7KAO4VGZAP7DBE7J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=db047d043af794e7dc382a29b95671a76ba41a6e766fea636ed0456d866b25c0&width=400&height=225)
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National
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Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg
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Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NQ5LRUK7H43ZNRWDF7T7EPBWTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa7aa136666b30c919509d78fed141e24f8640a58b151c7f9d4a0a5496302c55&width=400&height=225)
People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters
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Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters
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Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo
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People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
Judge approves release of civil servants detained in Beirut blast investigation
But attorney general turns down requests for the release of senior civil servants
![Elias Sakr](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F60642745-44f1-4576-af2b-7fe7a5de8616.png?smart=true&auth=dd5370faf899d7998b46426e8e83ca109b557752950bb3315c17548e7200cf4d&width=70&height=70)
Elias Sakr
23 June, 2021
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