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Beirut (AFP)
The head of the interim government in Lebanon, Hassan Diab, clarified on Wednesday the content of statements cited by his media office on Tuesday, in which he said the US FBI report estimated the amount of ammonium nitrate that exploded in Beirut port at 500 tons.
In a correction published by his media office, “To clarify, President Diab based his speech on unofficial data attributed to the FBI, and did not receive an official report on the matter” from US investigators.
A Diab adviser told France-Presse news agency that the interim prime minister “had access to information circulating in the media” in terms of estimating the size of the amount that exploded.
The Lebanese authorities attributed the horrific explosion on August 4, which killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,500, to a fire that broke out in a warehouse where, Diab announced at the time, six years ago 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate were stored without paperwork. protection.
Diab said, according to a statement from his media office Tuesday, during a meeting with several journalists, that “the FBI + report revealed that the amount that exploded was only 500 tons,” and wondered where the remaining 2,200 tons went. .
An “FBI” team participated in the initial investigation and the Lebanese side provided a copy of their report. Agence France-Presse was unable to verify or view the content of the report.
In response to a question from Agence France-Presse, the FBI declined to comment on the content of the report. He recalled the contents of a report he issued after the blast, in which he said that a team would assist in the investigation at the request of the Lebanese government.
“As this investigation is not an FBI investigation, the office will not provide any additional comment,” the statement said, “provided that” any additional questions are directed to the Lebanese authorities as they conduct the investigation. “
Lebanon refused to conduct an international investigation into the explosion, which severely damaged the country’s main port and several neighborhoods in the capital, displacing tens of thousands of families from their homes that were damaged or destroyed.
Authorities have been investigating the explosion since it occurred, but judicial investigator Fadi Sawan announced this month that investigations would be suspended for ten days after two former ministers who allegedly requested that the case be transferred to another judge.
The blast sparked widespread anger among the Lebanese, especially after various reports and sources confirmed that authorities, including former and current security services, presidents and officials, were aware of the storage of this material at the port and its dangers.
© 2020 AFP
