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On Wednesday, the head of the interim government in Lebanon, Hassan Diab, clarified the content of the statements cited by his media office on Tuesday, in which he said the report by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimated that 500 tons the amount of ammonium nitrate that exploded in the port of Beirut.
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.
Lebanese authorities attributed the horrific explosion on August 4, which killed more than two hundred 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 They stored 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate without measures. 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,” wondering “where did they go? the remaining 2,200 tons “?
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.
