Beirut explosion: Lebanon’s prime minister, ex-officials charged with negligence in deadly blast

The Lebanese prosecutor probing last summer’s port explosion in Beirut formally filed charges Thursday against the caretaker prime minister and three former ministers, accusing them of negligence that led to the death of hundreds of people, Lebanon’s official news agency said.

Judge Fadi Sawwan filed the charges against caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as Ghazi Zeiter and Youssef Fenianos, both former ministers of public works. All four were charged with carelessness and negligence leading to death over the Aug. 4 explosion at Beirut’s port, which killed more than 200 people and injured thousands.

The explosion was caused by the ignition of a large stockpile of explosive material that had been stored at the port for six years, with the knowledge of top security officials and politicians who did nothing about it.

Diab resigned a few days after the blast, which levelled the country’s main port and destroyed large parts of the city. He has continued to function in a caretaker capacity while efforts to form a new government have floundered amid political disputes.

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