Beirut port blast investigation: what is happening? – The National

Beirut port blast investigation: what is happening? – The National

The investigation into Beirut’s deadly port blast continues, despite numerous legal hurdles and street clashes that left seven people dead last week.

The Lebanese Parliament reconvened on Tuesday for the first time since giving its vote of confidence to new Prime Minister Najib Mikati on September 20. This enhances the legal protection of sitting MPs, but lawyers say investigative judge Tarek Bitar can continue procedures launched against some of them in the past month.

Mr Bitar has evidence implicating some of the most prominent former ministers and sitting MPs in the explosion that killed more than 215 people on August 4, 2020, allegedly caused by the improper storage of thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate for seven years.