In this Aug. 4, 2020 file photo, Hoda Kinno, 11, is evacuated by her uncle Mustafa, in the aftermath of a massive explosion at the port in Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Lebanon’s president said he would welcome a probe into the Beirut port blast that occurred last year. Lebanese President Michael Aoun made the comment in a speech on Tuesday.
The blast was reportedly caused by ammonium nitrate and so far, local investigations have failed to turn out an arrests or fines on port officials. However, a report by Human Rights Watch reportedly suggested evidence some Lebanese officials knew about the risks of storing large quantities of the chemical.
“Our martyrs cry out for conscience and the eyes of the world are staring at us. The challenge facing the judicial investigator and the judiciary is to reveal the truth.” Auon expressed. “Conduct the trial and issue a fair judgement in an acceptable period of time because justice delivered late is not justice.”
Lebanon: Evidence Implicates Officials in #BeirutBlast https://t.co/Q35cdPmEq2 pic.twitter.com/vxt5Jwbt13
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) August 3, 2021
The comments came after many Lebanese citizens expressed anger that no senior officials have been held accountable for the blast, which was one of the largest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded.
Source: One America News Network
