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This picture shows damage at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. Courtesy Lebanese Plane Spotters / Facebook
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Damaged cars are pictured in front of billowing smoke behind the grain silos at the port of Beirut. AFP
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A drone picture shows smoke from the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo
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Lebanon's President Michel Aoun wears a protective face mask as he visits the scene of Tuesday's explosion in Beirut. AFP
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An emergency command vehicle of the Lebanese Red Cross is pictured in the aftermath of yesterday's blast. AFP
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A man inspects the damage of yesterday's blast. AFP
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A survivor is taken out of the rubble after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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A damaged hospital is seen after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut.AP Photo
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An ambulance drives near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Lebanese national flags fly at half-mast outside the presidential palace in Baabda, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A woman is evacuated from the partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
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An injured man sits next to a restaurant in the trendy partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
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A man walks past damaged building and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A man wearing a protective face mask walks past damaged buildings and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A woman sweeps at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut. Reuters
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A man wearing a face mask moves a gurney at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Reuters
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The wreckage of a ship is seen following yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Lebanese soldiers and people gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre following an explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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The explosion caused damage to Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office
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The damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office following the blast.
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Pictures of the damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office
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People gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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Damaged vehicle and buildings near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
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A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Beirut. AFP
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A man pushes a buggy with a child on Wednesday past a damaged vehicle near the scene of overnight blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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In this drone picture, the destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris. AP Photo
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People inspect the damage near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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People inspect the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Shattered glass lies in front of a building following a blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
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Lebanese army troops carry a wounded man evacuated from a ship at Beirut's port. AFP
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This picture shows damage at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. Courtesy Lebanese Plane Spotters / Facebook
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Damaged cars are pictured in front of billowing smoke behind the grain silos at the port of Beirut. AFP
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A drone picture shows smoke from the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut. AP Photo
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Lebanon's President Michel Aoun wears a protective face mask as he visits the scene of Tuesday's explosion in Beirut. AFP
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An emergency command vehicle of the Lebanese Red Cross is pictured in the aftermath of yesterday's blast. AFP
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A man inspects the damage of yesterday's blast. AFP
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A survivor is taken out of the rubble after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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A damaged hospital is seen after a massive explosion in Beirut. AP Photo
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Lebanese soldiers search for survivors after a massive explosion in Beirut.AP Photo
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An ambulance drives near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Lebanese national flags fly at half-mast outside the presidential palace in Baabda, following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A woman is evacuated from the partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
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An injured man sits next to a restaurant in the trendy partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. AFP
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A man walks past damaged building and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A man wearing a protective face mask walks past damaged buildings and vehicles near the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A woman sweeps at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast, in Beirut. Reuters
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A man wearing a face mask moves a gurney at a damaged hospital following Tuesday's blast in Beirut. Reuters
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The wreckage of a ship is seen following yesterday's blast at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP
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A view shows the aftermath at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Lebanese soldiers and people gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre following an explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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The explosion caused damage to Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office
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The damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office following the blast.
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Pictures of the damage at Lebanon's PM Hassan Diab's office
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People gather outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre following the explosion in Beirut. Reuters
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Damaged vehicle and buildings near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images
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A view shows the damaged facade of a building following Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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A view shows the aftermath of yesterday's blast at the port of Beirut. AFP
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A man pushes a buggy with a child on Wednesday past a damaged vehicle near the scene of overnight blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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In this drone picture, the destroyed silo sits in rubble and debris. AP Photo
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People inspect the damage near the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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People inspect the scene of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area. Reuters
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Shattered glass lies in front of a building following a blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
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Lebanese army troops carry a wounded man evacuated from a ship at Beirut's port. AFP
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This picture shows damage at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport. Courtesy Lebanese Plane Spotters / Facebook
What is ammonium nitrate, the everyday fertiliser behind the Beirut explosion?
The substance is widely used in construction and agriculture but can also be used by terrorists. What is ammonium nitrate and why is it so dangerous?
![Jamie Prentis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F7e8731e9-4925-4121-9565-fee2525fc1c6.png?smart=true&auth=8c028507ec53318d49d5123c5dc965135b9b7aea1a6d3ffd9ccacfb39b6f8f40&width=70&height=70)
Jamie Prentis
04 August, 2021
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