Riots in the Rubble: Beirut Explodes in Violence, Protesters Gassed After Deadly Blast
Police in the Lebanese capital of Beirut used tear gas on protesters who took to the streets Thursday night to demand accountability over the monstrous Tuesday explosion that killed at least 150 people and injured more than 5,000. Small fires were set in front of the main parliament hall and angry people threw rubble from the blast at police in riot gear.
A paper trail that shows how government officials ignored warnings for more than six years about the 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate that was carelessly stored in a port hangar before it detonated has led to widespread calls for an independent investigation into the blast.
Prosecutors have detained 16 port staff over the incident, but no government officials have yet been formally implicated, despite allegations that they ignored requests to remove the explosives from the city’s main port. Lebanon’s new prime minister, Hassan Diab, promised that those found responsible would pay a heavy price.