Police question relatives of port blast victims
Thirteen relatives of the victims of the massive 2020 explosion at Beirut's port showed up on Monday to answer questions by police after they were accused of rioting and vandalism during protests over the stalled investigation into the blast.
On Tuesday, victims' relatives had thrown stones at the palace of justice in Beirut and stormed the outer gate of the building. Some of them were injured as they clashed with security forces.
William Noon -- whose brother was killed in the devastating port blast -- was arrested Friday over remarks about "blowing up the palace of justice".
He was released Saturday after his arrest sparked protests in Beirut.
Activists, families of the blast victims, lawmakers and lawyers rallied on Monday in front of Barbar el-Khazen police station in Verdun to support those being interrogated by the police.
The relatives said that they are not above the law and that no one should be.
The investigators into the Beirut port blast had attempted to question a former premier and four ex-ministers over the tragedy, but the probe was repeatedly obstructed before being suspended.
Former PM Hassan Diab and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as Ghazi Zoaiter and Youssef Fenianos, both former ministers of public works, had been accused of negligence that led to the death of hundreds of people. They refused to attend interrogation hearings as they enjoy immunity.
"The problem is between the families and those responsible for the port blast," Noon said. "It is not between us and the judges." "We came (to the interrogation) because we respect the judiciary," he added.
Among the protesters outside was the mother of Ahmad Kaadan, who was killed in the blast. She held a poster of her son and decried what she said was Lebanon’s “failed state and judiciary.”
“Instead of bringing in the officials with arrest warrants, they’re going after the families wanting to know who killed their children,” Um Ahmad told reporters. “In this country, those on the side of justice are getting arrested while the criminals are enjoying their lives.”
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press
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