Lebanon grills former security chiefs over Beirut port blast: What we know
The probe into the explosion caused by thousands of tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate at the port has stalled for the past four years due to political interference in the judiciary.
BEIRUT — A Lebanese judge leading the investigation into the 2020 explosion that struck the port of Beirut interrogated two former security officials on Friday in connection with the blast, in the latest sign of progress in the probe that has faced repeated obstructions over the last four years.
Former General Security director Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim was interrogated by Judge Tarek Bitar at the Justice Palace in Beirut in his first appearance before the judge since he began the investigation in 2021.
Bitar decided to keep Ibrahim under investigation without pressing charges or ordering his detention at this stage, according to the official National News Agency.
Earlier on Thursday, Ibrahim filed a lawsuit against the judge after he was summoned for questioning, stating that it was due to “the fundamental violations Bitar committed during the investigation.” The lawsuit did not specify the nature of these violations.
