Enlarge image
Lebanese security forces on duty in Beirut
Photo: Hussein Malla / AP
During protests in the Lebanese capital Beirut, according to medical circles, at least one person was killed and seven other people were injured.
The state news agency NNA reported one death and six injured.
According to an eyewitness, strangers fired shots from a building near the Palace of Justice.
It is still unclear exactly who was responsible.
The army announced that it would open fire on any riflemen.
The mood was tense.
Videos showed bleeding people and crowds running across an intersection looking for protection when they were shot.
Security forces were deployed in large numbers and blocked off several streets.
Local residents were urged to avoid the area.
Protests against judges
The Shiite Amal movement, which maintains close contacts with Hezbollah, which is loyal to Iran, called for protests in front of the Palace of Justice.
They want to put pressure on investigating magistrate Tarek Bitar, who is leading the investigation into the massive explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020.
More than 190 people were killed and around 6,000 injured in the explosion.
Large parts of the port and the adjacent residential areas were massively destroyed by the explosion.
Amal and Hezbollah supporters are demanding that Bitar be pulled out of the case.
On Thursday, a court of cassation rejected an application by two ex-ministers to depose Bitar - shortly afterwards, street violence broke out.
Because of the request, the investigation had been stopped since Tuesday.
A few weeks ago, ex-ministers filed a lawsuit against Bitar and accused him of a lack of neutrality during the investigation.
The case had been withdrawn from his predecessor six months ago following complaints from accused ex-ministers.
Bitar can continue its work for the time being, at least after the court ruling on Thursday.
ptz / dpa
