03:20Violent clashes broke out as hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the Lebanese Justice Palace in Beirut on Thursday to protest against the state of the investigation into the deadly Beirut port blast.
Two riot officers were dragged out and beaten by protesters after activists broke open one of the gates to the building. The officers were later escorted back to safety inside the building.
The protest came after Lebanon’s top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat filed charges against Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar and released all suspects detained in connection with the deadly blast.
Bitar had earlier charged several figures - including Oueidat himself - and restarted the probe which had been suspended amid political and legal wrangling.
"Judge Oueidat released the detainees while he was accused of the August 4 bombing, so he must be imprisoned in their place, and we will not accept anything else," said a family member of one of the victims.
Oueidat has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020, resulted in the deaths of around 200 people, injuring more than 6,000 and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
Lebanon: Riot police beaten by protesters as clashes erupt outside Justice Palace over blast probe
Violent clashes broke out as hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the Lebanese Justice Palace in Beirut on Thursday to protest against the state of the investigation into the deadly Beirut port blast.
Two riot officers were dragged out and beaten by protesters after activists broke open one of the gates to the building. The officers were later escorted back to safety inside the building.
The protest came after Lebanon’s top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat filed charges against Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar and released all suspects detained in connection with the deadly blast.
Bitar had earlier charged several figures - including Oueidat himself - and restarted the probe which had been suspended amid political and legal wrangling.
"Judge Oueidat released the detainees while he was accused of the August 4 bombing, so he must be imprisoned in their place, and we will not accept anything else," said a family member of one of the victims.
Oueidat has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020, resulted in the deaths of around 200 people, injuring more than 6,000 and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
Violent clashes broke out as hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the Lebanese Justice Palace in Beirut on Thursday to protest against the state of the investigation into the deadly Beirut port blast.
Two riot officers were dragged out and beaten by protesters after activists broke open one of the gates to the building. The officers were later escorted back to safety inside the building.
The protest came after Lebanon’s top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat filed charges against Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar and released all suspects detained in connection with the deadly blast.
Bitar had earlier charged several figures - including Oueidat himself - and restarted the probe which had been suspended amid political and legal wrangling.
"Judge Oueidat released the detainees while he was accused of the August 4 bombing, so he must be imprisoned in their place, and we will not accept anything else," said a family member of one of the victims.
Oueidat has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The Beirut port explosion of August 4, 2020, resulted in the deaths of around 200 people, injuring more than 6,000 and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.