Beirut: Judge probing last year Beirut The Port Blasts on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against the former Public Works Minister Yusuf Finianos The state’s national news agency reported that after he did not appear for questioning.
Finianos, a Hezbollah ally who was sanctioned by the United States for his links with the group it considers a terrorist organization, could not be immediately reached for comment.
The massive August 2020 eruption was caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate, which had been stored unsafely at the port for years. This is the first arrest warrant for a former minister that has emerged from the investigation.
The explosion killed hundreds, injured thousands, and destroyed large parts of the city, but after more than a year, no top officials were held accountable, angering many Lebanese.
judge tarek bitari, who is now heading the investigation into the massive blast, issued a request in July to question the former prime minister. Hassan Diabo and other top officials. These included former Public Works Minister Finianos, who was joined by Bitter’s predecessor Fadiq. Monsoon Alleged negligence.
Everyone has denied wrongdoing.
Sawan was dropped from the investigation in February after a court requested his dismissal by two other former ministers whom he accused of negligence leading to the disaster – Ali Hassan Khalil and ghazi jaeter.
Diab, the former Lebanese prime minister, is due for questioning on September 20, although it is not clear whether he will return for the session after leaving Beirut for the United States on Tuesday.
Diba Could not immediately be reached for comment.
Betar issued a summons for Diab on 26 August, when he failed to appear for questioning.
On Thursday, the families of the victims demonstrated outside the Justice Palace in Beirut and blocked a nearby road, angered by the lack of progress in the investigation.
“We are going to take steps that are not peaceful,” Ibrahim was there, a spokesman for the victims told local television channel MTV from the demonstration.
Finianos, a Hezbollah ally who was sanctioned by the United States for his links with the group it considers a terrorist organization, could not be immediately reached for comment.
The massive August 2020 eruption was caused by a large amount of ammonium nitrate, which had been stored unsafely at the port for years. This is the first arrest warrant for a former minister that has emerged from the investigation.
The explosion killed hundreds, injured thousands, and destroyed large parts of the city, but after more than a year, no top officials were held accountable, angering many Lebanese.
judge tarek bitari, who is now heading the investigation into the massive blast, issued a request in July to question the former prime minister. Hassan Diabo and other top officials. These included former Public Works Minister Finianos, who was joined by Bitter’s predecessor Fadiq. Monsoon Alleged negligence.
Everyone has denied wrongdoing.
Sawan was dropped from the investigation in February after a court requested his dismissal by two other former ministers whom he accused of negligence leading to the disaster – Ali Hassan Khalil and ghazi jaeter.
Diab, the former Lebanese prime minister, is due for questioning on September 20, although it is not clear whether he will return for the session after leaving Beirut for the United States on Tuesday.
Diba Could not immediately be reached for comment.
Betar issued a summons for Diab on 26 August, when he failed to appear for questioning.
On Thursday, the families of the victims demonstrated outside the Justice Palace in Beirut and blocked a nearby road, angered by the lack of progress in the investigation.
“We are going to take steps that are not peaceful,” Ibrahim was there, a spokesman for the victims told local television channel MTV from the demonstration.
.