Dozens Hurt In Lebanon Clashes On Blast Anniversary
Umer Jamshaid Published August 04, 2021 | 11:46 PM
Dozens were injured Wednesday when Lebanese police clashed with protesters demanding accountability for last year's Beirut port explosion, a short distance from the main event marking the tragedy's first anniversary
Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Aug, 2021 ) :Dozens were injured Wednesday when Lebanese police clashed with protesters demanding accountability for last year's Beirut port explosion, a short distance from the main event marking the tragedy's first anniversary.
Scuffles in central Beirut broke out between riot police and stone-lobbing protesters, who lit a fire and tried to storm the parliament's headquarters, whose members have been accused of stalling a probe into the disaster.
Riot police responded by firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water canons, and urging "peaceful protesters" to leave.
"In light of repeated attacks on members of the Internal Security Forces, we will resort to legitimate and proportionate means ... against non-peaceful demonstrators," police said in a statement.
Shortly afterwards, Lebanese television appeared to show a tank moving in to the area.
The Red Cross, which dispatched 21 ambulances and 100 paramedics, said it transported eight people to hospital, and had treated dozens more on-site.
Nearby, a few hundred of metres (yards) away at the port, thousands gathered to mark the first anniversary of the explosion which killed at least 214 people.
Survivors and relatives of blast victims carried flags and portraits of the dead, as prayers and mournful tunes rang out amid a mix of grief and anger.
There were no reports of violence there.
Shortly after 6:00 pm on August 4, 2020, a stock of ammonium nitrate fertiliser haphazardly stored at the city's port exploded and left swathes of the Lebanese capital looking like a war zone.
One year on, no senior official has been held to account. A local investigation has yet to yield major arrests or even identify a culprit, with political leaders widely accused of obstructing justice.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTI to stage nationwide protests against alleged electoral frauds
Senate continues discussion on Presidential address to Joint Sitting of Parliame ..
Masood Khan calls for Pak-US cooperation for regional peace
Interior Minister starts Margalla Trail Patrol for security
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
More Stories From World
-
Cybersecurity firm Darktrace accepts $5 bn takeover
15 minutes ago -
Clean energy drives massive BHP takeover bid
45 minutes ago -
Copper price tops $10,000 for first time in two years
1 hour ago -
Ukraine agriculture minister held for alleged corruption
1 hour ago -
China calls Germany spy claims 'pure fabrication'
1 hour ago -
Singapore expects 1-3 pct growth this year
2 hours ago
-
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Tech Index rises over 5 pct
2 hours ago -
New Zealand business sector R&D expenditure hits 2.21 bln USD
2 hours ago -
3 dead after mini car falls into west Japan paddy field
2 hours ago -
Chinese shares higher at midday Friday
2 hours ago -
Myanmar plans to export 2,000 tons of coffee in 2024-25 fiscal year
2 hours ago -
Chinese shares close higher Friday
2 hours ago