Lebanon’s president admits he knew of chemical stockpile three weeks before Beirut explosion

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Luke O'Reilly8 August 2020

Lebanon’s president has admitted that he knew about the huge stockpile of explosive material stored at Beirut’s port nearly three weeks before it blew up.

The explosion in Beirut on Tuesday, believed to be the result of the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely at a port warehouse, left at least 154 people dead, 5,000 injured and 300,000 homeless.

Michel Aoun said on Friday that he ordered action be taken about it at the time. But he said he had no authority over the facility.

“Do you know how many problems have been accumulating?” Mr Aoun replied when a reporter pressed whether he should have followed up on his order.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun, right, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron
via REUTERS

His comments are the most senior confirmation that Lebanon’s leaders and security officials were aware of the 2,750 tonnes of highly explosive ammonium nitrate that had been stored at the port for years.

Mr Aoun, who has been in his post since 2016, said previous governments had known about the danger of the stockpile since it was confiscated from a ship impounded in 2013.

“The material had been there for seven years, since 2013,” he told a news conference.

The explosion decimated Beirut
Getty Images

“It has been there and they said it is dangerous and I am not responsible.

“I don’t know where it was placed. I don’t even know the level of danger.”

The president said the material was there for seven years
AFP via Getty Images

He said when he was told of the stockpile June 20, he immediately ordered military and security officials “to do what is needed”.

Mr Aoun said the explosion may have been caused by negligence but the investigation will also look at the possibility that it could have been caused by a bomb or other “external intervention”.

He said he has asked France for satellite imagery from the time of the blast to see if they showed any planes or missiles.

It comes as British medics are set to fly out today to assist with the health response in Beirut, the Department for International Development (Dfid) has announced.

British medics will fly out to help with the recovery effort
AFP via Getty Images

The department said five medics from the UK’s Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) will leave from London Heathrow heading to Lebanon, at the request of the Lebanese Government, to determine the urgent needs in the Beirut health system and to look at how the UK can offer support.

International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “The Lebanese people continue to be in our thoughts at this terrible time. The UK is sending these world-leading medics to use their expertise and to make sure the people of Lebanon get the help they need as quickly as possible.

“Today’s field team comes on top of the UK’s substantial military support and aid package. We will do everything we can to help the people of Lebanon in their hour of need.”

Sixteen employees at Beirut’s port have been detained over the explosion.

All of them are port and customs officials, as well as individuals in charge of maintenance at the hangar where 2,750 tons of explosive materials have been stored for years.

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