Two and a half years after the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, which killed more than 200 people, all suspects are again at large. Lebanese Attorney General Ghassan Oweidat ordered his release on Wednesday, according to legal sources. The decision is another setback for the already slow investigations into the catastrophe. It also comes two days after Judge Tarek Bitar resumed the investigation after more than a year of deadlock. He filed charges against eight suspects, including Attorney General Oweidat.
Investigations stalled for 13 months
As several accused former ministers filed charges against Bitar, the investigation was suspended for 13 months. A court of cassation must actually decide whether the judge should vacate his office because of the allegation of bias. A verdict has not yet been issued. Oweidat has now announced legal action against Bitar.
Many Lebanese are angry and blame the political leadership for the August 2020 disaster. Bitar’s investigations threaten several high-ranking politicians. His predecessor had already had to leave office due to complaints from several former ministers.
The victims’ families, among whom Bitar has great confidence, threatened to protest on Wednesday. Oweidat’s decision was “an embarrassment to all the victims,” said Nancy Noun, whose brother died in the blast while working as a firefighter, the dpa. “We will not be silent.”