BEIRUT — The investigation into the catastrophic Beirut port explosion of August 2020 has recently restarted, as Lebanese judge Tarek Bitar questioned two employees from the port on Friday after facing years of challenges. This resumption of the inquiry comes after a long period of obstruction, as disclosed by several judicial and security officials who requested to remain anonymous due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
On August 4, 2020, a massive explosion occurred when hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate ignited in a warehouse at the Beirut port, resulting in the deaths of at least 218 individuals and injuring over 6,000 others. The explosion, noted as one of the most significant non-nuclear blasts recorded, inflicted billions of dollars in damages and had a profound impact on the capital and the nation as a whole.
The investigation led by Judge Bitar encountered serious setbacks, with several officials implicated attempting to undermine his authority—accusing him of bias and refusing to provide testimony. Some even sought his removal through legal complaints.
Earlier this year, the then-chief prosecutor released 17 detainees linked to the port and customs departments, who had been awaiting trial since the incident. This action was met with criticism from Bitar and legal experts, who denounced it as illegal.
Following significant political developments in Lebanon that began in mid-January, the investigation resumed. Among these changes were Joseph Aoun’s election as the new president, filling a two-year leadership vacuum, and the appointment of Nawaf Salam, a former diplomat, as prime minister-designate. These newly appointed leaders are seen as figures outside the prevalent political system in Lebanon, a system involving many individuals charged in the port explosion investigation led by Bitar.
In his inaugural address, President Aoun asserted that building a nation requires adherence to the rule of law, denouncing influential groups and any attempts to obstruct the judiciary or police. He emphasized the need for no special protections for individuals guilty of crimes or corruption.
During the questioning conducted by Bitar on Friday, port employee Salim Shibli, who owns a contracting firm that had conducted repairs at the site of the blast, was among those interrogated. Shibli claimed that his team had finished their work and vacated the area just one hour before a fire ignited, which subsequently led to the explosion. He asserted that the welding done could not have been the cause of the fire, according to the officials.
Another individual interrogated was Rabih Srour, a security official at Warehouse 12, who fully cooperated during the questioning. Four other individuals summoned for interrogation, which included the former head of Beirut customs as well as the owner of the shipment consisting of the ammonium nitrate, did not attend the questioning session. Some of these individuals have indicated their intention to appear at a later date, according to the officials.
Moving forward, Judge Bitar plans to question more senior customs officials and high-ranking security and political figures in the coming months. Earlier this year, Lebanon’s chief prosecutor and the top judge met with Bitar to facilitate legal avenues that could ensure cooperation from high-ranking officials. The chief prosecutor suggested narrowing the investigation focus to lower-level port employees, with the rationale of letting separate courts handle more senior cases. However, Bitar remained firm on his stance to issue an indictment by the year’s end.
