Lebanon awaits justice 5 years after Beirut port blast

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00:00August 4th, 2020. Beirut residents are shocked to see a cloud of smoke rising into the sky above

00:06their city's port. Then the unthinkable, a massive explosion sends a supersonic shockwave

00:12tearing through the capital. The blast, fueled by more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate left

00:18improperly stored at the port for some seven years. Entire neighborhoods leveled. 235 killed,

00:25more than 6,000 wounded, property damage running into the billions. Five years later,

00:32victims' relatives say justice feels as far away as ever, but they're not giving up.

00:38We're still demanding justice. We haven't forgotten. And we believe there will be justice,

00:43but only if politicians in Lebanon take their hands off the judiciary system.

00:48In February 2021, the first investigating judge assigned to the case,

00:53Fadi Sawan, was removed from it after accusing several high-level officials and former deputies

00:59of negligence. His replacement, Tarek Bittar, has issued dozens of arrest warrants against port

01:05employees, customs officials and politicians. Lebanon's powerful Islamist militia Hezbollah

01:11says it's being unfairly targeted in the probe. It has demanded Bittar be fired.

01:17After a demonstration against the judge descended into armed confrontation,

01:20suspects have turned to a strategy of obstruction, filing dozens of appeals. The case also stalled in

01:27part due to Lebanon's ongoing economic collapse and war with neighboring Israel.

01:34January's electoral victory of new president Joseph Aoun has rekindled hopes for justice,

01:39with his administration promising to complete the investigation. An indictment from Bittar had

01:44been expected over the summer. That deadline now pushed back to the end of the year.

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