The prosecution of eight new people, including politicians, judges, and security personnel, and the release of five detainees in the file constitute the main novelties of the return to the case, local media reported.

The judge indicted eight officials, including the Director of Public Security, the head of the State Security Agency, and the former army commander.

The return of the investigation occurs days after Al-Bitar’s meeting with a French delegation in his office in the Beirut Palace of Justice and after a pause since the end of 2021.

On August 4th, 2020, over two thousand tons of ammonium nitrate poorly stored for six years caught fire and detonated not too long thereafter, surprising passers-by, partially or totally destroying businesses, homes, shopping malls, leaving hundreds of Lebanese unemployed and causing psychological consequences.

The explosion at the port happened months after the popular revolt of October 2019, accentuating Lebanon’s worst economic and financial crisis, which is currently dragging four out of five citizens into poverty.

ef/llp/lam/yma