Lebanese judge to start questioning top politicians, security chiefs over port blasts

BEIRUT, July 2– The Lebanese judge leading the investigation into Beirut port’s blasts announced Friday that he will start questioning caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, former ministers and current and former heads of security agencies, the National News Agency reported. Judge Tarek Bitar has set a date for interrogating Diab without publically…

BEIRUT, July 2 (Xinhua) — The Lebanese judge leading the investigation into Beirut port’s blasts announced Friday that he will start questioning caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, former ministers and current and former heads of security agencies, the National News Agency reported.

Judge Tarek Bitar has set a date for interrogating Diab without publically disclosing it while he sent a letter to the parliament requesting the lifting of parliamentary immunity of former Public Works Minister Ghazi Zeaiter, former Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and former Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk.

Bitar also asked the interior ministry for permission to prosecute Director of Lebanese Public Security Abbas Ibrahim while also charging former army chief retired General Jean Kahwagi and former directors of army intelligence Brigadier Generals Kamil Daher, Ghassan Gharzeddine and Jawdat Oweidat.

Beirut’s port was hit by two big blasts on Aug. 4, 2020 caused by the explosion of around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in one of the port’s warehouses since 2013. The cause behind the explosion has not yet been identified.

The blasts killed at least 200 people, wounded around 6,000 others and destroyed a big part of the city. Enditem