Lebanese judge goes after top officials over port blast

The move by Tarek Bitar will include senior security officials and politicians, including caretaker PM Hassan Diab.

A Lebanese judge investigating last year’s Beirut port blast announced legal procedures against a number of politicians and security chiefs, including the acting premier, a judicial source and the state news agency reported on Friday. The move – about 11 months after the blast – was praised by families of the victims and survivors as a bold step by Judge Tarek Bitar. Judge Bitar, who became the lead investigator into the blast after his predecessor was removed in February, will call in caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and others, the agency said, although it said no dates had yet been set.