Tag: Beirut

Lebanese Prosecutor-General sues Beirut port blasts investigator

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Beirut: Lebanon’s Prosecutor-General Ghassan Oueidat has filed charges against the judge leading the investigation into the 2020 Port of Beirut blasts and released all the 17 suspects in connection with devastating explosions that killed at least 218 people.
The prosecutor accused Tarek Bitar of “abusing power” by resuming his work despite the several complaints filed against him, reports Xinhua news agency.
The investigation was suspended in December 2021 after a series of complaints were filed against Bitar, forcing him to halt his probe.
He resumed his work on Monday after a 13-month suspension.
In response to Oueidat’s accusation, Bitar said he won’t step down and will continue with his “responsibilities as investigative judge”.
Upon returning to the office on Monday, Bitar ordered the release of five detained suspects and announced his plan to press charges against others.
On Tuesday, he charged former prime minister Hassan Diab and two former ministers with homicide with probable intent.
He also charged chief of Lebanese General Security Abbas Ibrahim, State Security director Tony Saliba, and former army commander Jean Kahwaji in connection.

Meanwhile, families of the blast victims were angered by Oueidat’s decision to release all the suspects and staged protests in Baabda, the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate.
Primary investigations into the blast revealed that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (equivalent to around 1.1 kilotons of TNT) stored since 2014 in a warehouse at the port caused the explosions, which injured 7,000 people, caused $15 billion in property damage, and left estimated 300,000 others homeless.
The substance was stored at the warehouse after being confiscated by the Lebanese authorities from the abandoned ship MV Rhosus.
The explosion was preceded by a fire in the same warehouse.
The blast was so powerful that it physically shook the whole country of Lebanon.
It was felt in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, as well as parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km away.
It was detected by the US Geological Survey as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3 and is considered one of the most powerful accidental artificial non-nuclear explosions in history.
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#Lebanese #ProsecutorGeneral #sues #Beirut #port #blasts #investigator
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 26, 2023
Ex-Lebanese PM Hassan Diab charged in Beirut blast investigation

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Beirut: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has been charged with homicide with probable intent over the devastating Port of Beirut explosions in 2020 that killed at least 218 people.
Tarek Bitar, a Lebanese judge tasked with investigating the explosions, also charged Abbas Ibrahim, chief of Lebanese General Security, State Security director Major General Tony Saliba, and former Lebanese army commander Jean Kahwaji, reports Xinhua news agency.
Prosecutor-General Ghassan Oueidat, who was also charged in the Beirut blast investigation, announced on Tuesday his rejection of the decision issued earlier by Bitar, arguing that the judge was suspended from his investigation over a year ago.
Bitar’s work had been interrupted for over a year following several complaints filed against him by two former ministers facing charges, forcing him to halt the probe.
He resumed his work on Monday after a legal opinion said he should be allowed to continue his investigation.
Primary investigations into the blast revealed that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate (equivalent to around 1.1 kilotons of TNT) stored since 2014 in a warehouse at the port caused the explosions, which injured 7,000 people, caused $15 billion in property damage, and left estimated 300,000 others homeless.
The substance was stored at the warehouse after being confiscated by the Lebanese authorities from the abandoned ship MV Rhosus.
The explosion was preceded by a fire in the same warehouse.

The blast was so powerful that it physically shook the whole country of Lebanon.
It was felt in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, as well as parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km away.
It was detected by the US Geological Survey as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3 and is considered one of the most powerful accidental artificial non-nuclear explosions in history.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#ExLebanese #Hassan #Diab #charged #Beirut #blast #investigation
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 25, 2023
‘Guide’ Took Pilgrims To Iran, Left Them In Beirut and Fled With Their Money

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SRINAGAR: A self-styled ‘Guide’ has duped at least 10 Kashmiri pilgrims, after taking money from them to show sacred shrines and places in Iran, Iraq, and other countries, leaving them mid-way in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
At least 10 pilgrims are stuck in Delhi this time, requesting Jammu and Kashmir Administration to help them return home as they are without money.
One of the pilgrims Ghulam Hasan Wani of Devara Yetalampora village of Singhpora Pattan told over the phone from Delhi that a Guide Syed Nasir from Harennarah Pattan took Rs one lakh per person to help them on pilgrimage to Karbala and other sacred sites.
“After performing the pilgrimage, the guide left us mid-way in Beirut without informing us. He is still absconding. We suffered heavily as we were not having money with us. We sold our valuables including the earrings and gold chains of women pilgrims accompanying us. Somehow we have managed to reach New Delhi,” he said.
The pilgrims said that they have no money to return back to Valley as they have no money and are starving.
They appealed to LG Manoj Sinha led administration to help them in returning home and direct police to take action against the guide.
“We can’t narrate our sufferings in words. We are illiterates and yet he (Guide) left us in the lurch,” said a woman pilgrim. (KNT)

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#Guide #Pilgrims #Iran #Left #Beirut #Fled #Money
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

January 21, 2023
Guide dupes Kashmiri pilgrims leaving them mid-way in Beirut (capital city of Lebanon) – Kashmir News

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Srinagar, Jan 21: A self-styled ‘Guide’ has duped at least 10 Kashmiri pilgrims, after taking money from them to show sacred shrines and places in Iran, Iraq and other countries, leaving them mid-way in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
At least 10 pilgrims are stuck in Delhi this time, requesting Jammu and Kashmir Administration to help them return home as they are without money.
One of the pilgrims Ghulam Hasan Wani of Devar Yekmanpora village of Singhpora Pattan told the news agency Kashmir News Trust over the phone from Delhi that a Guide Syed Nasir from Harinara Pattan took Rs one lakh per person to help them in pilgrimage to Karbala and others sacred site.
“After performing pilgrimage, the guide left us mid-way in Beirut without informing us. He is still absconding. We suffered heavily as we were not having money with us. We sold our valuables including the earrings and gold chains of women pilgrims accompanying us. Somehow we have managed to reach New Delhi,” he said.
The pilgrims said that they have no money to return back to Valley as they have no money and are starving.
They appealed to LG Manoj Sinha led administration to help them in returning home and direct police to take action against the guide.
“We can’t narrate our sufferings in words. We are illiterates and yet he (Guide) left us in the lurch,” said a woman pilgrim. (KNT)

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#Guide #dupes #Kashmiri #pilgrims #leaving #midway #Beirut #capital #city #Lebanon #Kashmir #News
( With inputs from : kashmirnews.in )

January 21, 2023
Guide dupes Kashmiri pilgrims leaving them mid-way in Beirut

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Srinagar, Jan 21: A self-styled ‘Guide’ has duped at least 10 Kashmiri pilgrims, after taking money from them to show sacred shrines and places in Iran, Iraq and other countries, leaving them mid-way in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.
At least 10 pilgrims are stuck in Delhi this time, requesting Jammu and Kashmir Administration to help them return home as they are without money.
One of the pilgrims Ghulam Hasan Wani of Devara Yetalampora village of Singhpora Pattan told the news agency Kashmir News Trust over the phone from Delhi that a Guide Syed Nasir from Harennarah Pattan took Rs one lakh per person to help them in pilgrimage to Karbala and others sacred site.
“After performing pilgrimage, the guide left us mid-way in Beirut without informing us. He is still absconding. We suffered heavily as we were not having money with us. We sold our valuables including the earrings and gold chains of women pilgrims accompanying us. Somehow we have managed to reach New Delhi,” he said.
The pilgrims said that they have no money to return back to Valley as they have no money and are starving.
They appealed to LG Manoj Sinha led administration to help them in returning home and direct police to take action against the guide.
“We can’t narrate our sufferings in words. We are illiterates and yet he (Guide) left us in the lurch,” said a woman pilgrim. [KNT]
Story by Tanveer Hussain.

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#Guide #dupes #Kashmiri #pilgrims #leaving #midway #Beirut
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

January 21, 2023