Lebanon’s Future Movement has ‘suspicions’ after blast

BEIRUT

A Sunni Muslim coalition led by former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri raised “suspicions” Wednesday about a massive blast in Beirut, “its timing, conditions and location, how it occurred” and “inflammable material” causing it.

The Future Movement spoke at the group’s meeting at Hariri's Beit al-Wasat residence in central Beirut and urged “the state, with all its institutions, presidencies and components, to achieve a transparent judicial and security investigation that is not subject to bargaining, denial and escaping from the truth, regardless of the limits of responsibilities in it.”

It stressed: “In order for the Lebanese to reach a transparent investigation at this level, it is necessary to request international participation, international experts and specialized committees capable of exposing the truth and achieving justice for Beirut and its people.”

A fire at a warehouse containing explosives at the Port of Beirut led to a massive blast Tuesday, leaving 135 people dead and nearly 5,000 injured.

The explosion caused massive damage in several neighborhoods in capital.

President Michel Aoun cited ammonium nitrate as the source of the explosion that was heard across the city and its suburbs, and leveled a three-story building.

Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council declared Beirut a disaster zone and announced a state of emergency in the capital for two weeks.

The explosion deepens the woes of the country which for months has been grappling with a severe economic crisis and deep political polarization.

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara