Reports: Lebanon’s leaders warned in July about port explosives
Letter warning Beirut could ‘be destroyed’ reportedly sent to prime minister and president by port security officials.
Lebanese security officials warned the prime minister and president last month that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port could destroy the capital if it exploded, news reports said on Tuesday.
Two weeks later, the industrial chemicals went up in a massive explosion that obliterated most of the port and swaths of the capital, killing more than 200 people, injuring 6,000, and destroying 6,000 buildings.
The Reuters news agency reported that an investigation by the General Directorate of State Security on events leading up to the explosion included a reference to a private letter sent to President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Hassan Diab on July 20.
