Families of Beirut blast victims rally for probe to resume

Families of the victims of last year's explosion in Beirut's port have rallied outside Lebanon’s top court to denounce what they say are intentional obstructions in the probe of the devastating blast

BEIRUT -- Families of the victims of last year’s explosion in Beirut’s port rallied Thursday outside Lebanon’s top court against what they say are intentional obstructions to the probe of the devastating blast. They said their message to authorities was: “We are sick of waiting.”

Lebanon’s investigation into the August 2020 explosion led by Judge Tarek Bitar was suspended for the third time earlier this month because of a deluge of legal challenges filed by defendants.

The latest suspension, now entering its fourth week, is the longest since Bitar took over the case in February, after his predecessor was removed through a court order. Other legal challenges have resulted in only days of suspension.

The families said in a statement that the repeated obstructions of the probe was “surprising and shameful.”