Probe into Beirut blast frozen over judge impartiality suit, source says

A probe into the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port was frozen on Monday when a former minister wanted for questioning as a suspect filed a case questioning the lead investigator's neutrality, a judicial source said. Aug. 4, 2020, the Beirut port blast killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed swathes of Beirut.

A probe into the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port was frozen on Monday when a former minister wanted for questioning as a suspect filed a case questioning the lead investigator's neutrality, a judicial source said.

Aug. 4, 2020, the Beirut port blast killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed swathes of Beirut. It was caused by a large number of explosive chemicals stored at a warehouse unsafely for years. The judicial probe into the explosion, one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts ever recorded, has made no progress, angering many Lebanese including families of the victims who are furious that no senior officials have been held to account.

Judge Tarek Bitar was appointed lead investigator after the removal of his predecessor in February on similar grounds. Bitar was notified on Monday of the case against him filed by the former interior minister and current member of parliament Nohad Machnouk, the judicial source told Reuters.

"Now the sessions will be canceled and Judge Bitar will stop looking at the file until the court of cassation decides either to accept the case or reject it," the source said.