Lebanese caretaker prime minister accepts inquiries about bombing in Beirut port area

  Xinhua News Agency, Beirut, September 3 (Reporter Li Liangyong) On the 3rd, the Lebanese caretaker government Prime Minister Hassan Diab received an inquiry from the investigating judge Sowan on the bombing in the Beirut port area.

  According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Diab accepted Sowan’s question at the Prime Minister’s Office on the same day and made a statement on the relevant situation.

The report did not provide more details.

  Diab has thus become the highest-level official who has been questioned since the explosion in the Beirut port area.

According to Lebanese media reports, Sowan will also inquire about Lebanon's current and former public works ministers.

  A violent explosion occurred in the Beirut port area on August 4, killing at least 190 people and injuring more than 6,500 people.

The then Prime Minister Diab announced the collective resignation of the government on August 10.

  The specific cause of the explosion is still unclear.

Several Lebanese officials mentioned that approximately 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate have been stored in warehouses in the Beirut port area since 2014.

Some public documents show that, including some high-level officials, are aware of the existence of this chemical.

  Solvan has so far issued arrest warrants for at least 25 people involved in the case, including Lebanese Customs Commissioner Dashir and Beirut Port General Manager Quretem.

  According to the Lebanese military on the 3rd, 4.35 tons of ammonium nitrate were found near the entrance of Beirut Port, and the military is currently disposing of it.

After the explosion, in order to facilitate investigations, etc., Beirut implemented a state of emergency and the military supervised safety measures.