Rabat – As Hezbollah supporters gathered in protest against a judge investigating the Beirut port attack, gunfire erupted and at least five were killed and dozens wounded.
A mass gathering of hundreds of Hezbollah supporters and allies protested on Thursday, October 14, outside of the Beirut Justice Palace, demanding that Judge Tarek Bitar be removed from the Beirut Port explosion investigation due to perceived bias.
Angry protesters were scattered as bursts of gunfire were heard in the nearby Tayyoune neighborhood.
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, about 25 people were injured in the hostilities.
In response to the shooting, the Lebanese army deployed on the streets of the Lebanese capital, featuring armored vehicles and soldiers. The army intervened and arrested one of the alleged shooters. Neither the identity nor the affiliation of the shooters is known.
Lebanon’s prime minister Najib Mikati warned that calm must be maintained as violence might lead to renewed conflict in the crisis-riddled nation. Lebanese armed forces told civilians to evacuate the area and threatened to shoot anyone who opened fire.
In a statement, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and its ally the Amal movement urged their supporters to remain calm and “not be drawn to malicious discord”.
Tensions continue to rise over the investigation of the August 4, 2020 explosion at Beirut‘s port, with today’s incident coming at a particularly challenging time. Protesters in Beirut rallied two days after Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah harshly criticized Judge Bitar. Nasrallah alleged that the judge was “politically targeting” officials.
Throughout the past months, Bitar has sought to pursue former ministers Ali Hasan Khalil, Ghazi Zeiter, Nouhad Machnouk, and Youssef Finianos, as well as former prime minister Hasan Diab. Two of the officials belong to the Amal Movement, a Shia party closely associated with Hezbollah.
In addition, the judge has summoned the head of General Security, Major-General Abbas Ibrahim, and the head of State Security, Major-General Tony Saliba. He, however, did not receive authorization from the Interior Ministry and the High Defense Council to interview the high-ranking officials.
As a result of the legal complaint issued by Khalil and Zeiter on Tuesday, Bitar suspended his investigation immediately after issuing an arrest warrant for Khalil. The United States State Department and European Union called for the investigation to be resumed with no obstructions.
A devastating explosion at Beirut‘s port last year caused more than 200 fatalities and 6,500 injuries when a massive stockpile of improperly stored ammonium nitrate detonated.
The blast was the largest non-nuclear blast in history, and the most destructive event in Lebanon’s troubled history. Entire neighborhoods in Lebanon’s capital were destroyed.
No officials have been convicted so far.
Judge Bitar continues to be publicly supported by President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Mikati said Lebanon cannot bear the departure of a second judge from the blast probe.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah, Amal, and some allies have reportedly urged the government to formally condemn Bitar.
