A Lebanese newspaper: 3 findings of the investigations of the Beirut port explosion

The Lebanese "Republic" quoted "informed sources" that the investigations into the Beirut port explosion - which left thousands of dead and wounded, massive destruction of the capital's neighborhoods and billions of dollars in losses - had reached 3 conclusions.

The newspaper added that these investigations, which were "initially undertaken by the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces in cooperation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)," concluded as follows:

• There is no Israeli attack by sea or air.
• No shipment of weapons to Hezbollah at the port.
• The explosion was a result of generating high heat from a spark that was evaporated after the welding process, and led to the explosion, which gradually escalated due to the presence of highly flammable materials inside the house, including nitrates, thinners, and explosives.

Informed sources confirmed that “the military investigation in the Information Branch followed a certain methodology of interrogations and cameras, as did the judicial investigator Fadi Sawan, who followed 3 tracks, the first: the investigation of the detainees. The second: the introduction of new elements into the investigation, including judges and former employees. And the third: The investigation with the guardianship ministers, and the sources expected that the file would not end in less than a year at the Judicial Council, due to the issuance of the indictment and the accusations filing.

The sources also revealed - according to the newspaper - that "the investigation focuses on the role of the security services in the port. It also revealed that the final report of the investigation on the shape of the explosion proves that the force of the explosion was in a circular storm, but half of it collided with the sea and the other half collided with the land, which led to the destruction." The one that appeared in the first district (Ashrafieh, Mudawwar, Mar Mikhael and Gemayzeh) and the second quarter collided with the silos (wheat silos).

The sources added to the newspaper that "less than two thousand tons of ammonium nitrate exploded, and that between 700 to a thousand tons of these materials that were stored did not explode, and the investigation on this particular point reached two possibilities: The first is that there were those who were stealing these materials." And the second is that this quantity was burned, but it did not explode due to a defect in the validity. "

In the context, the local "Al-Akhbar" stated that "the investigation into the crime of bombing the port is proceeding very slowly, despite the fact that the judicial investigator conducts daily interrogations of a number of detainees."

The newspaper learned that “the judge listened to the testimony of 15 detainees out of 25 defendants within 11 days of receiving the investigation file. Although Sawan opened the interrogation sessions by investigating the main officials of the port (the current and former director of customs and the head of the Port Investment Authority), it seems surprising. He has not yet determined the hearing of the Minister of Works, Justice and Finance, which was postponed indefinitely with his assumption of the file. Nor has the judicial investigator summoned any of the security officials yet. "