Delay in Beirut port explosion probe

BEIRUT: A probe into the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port was frozen yesterday when a former minister wanted for questioning as a suspect filed a case questioning the lead investigator’s neutrality, a judicial source said. The August 4, 2020, Beirut port blast killed more than 200 people.

Judge Tarek Bitar was notified on Monday of the case against him filed by former interior minister and current member of parliament Nohad Machnouk.

“Now the sessions will be cancelled 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.