The State Security Authority announced that it had forwarded the findings to President Michel Aoun • "As early as April 2019, we noticed the security flaws"

The Lebanese State Security Agency announced today (Tuesday) the end of its investigation into the disaster explosion at the port of Beirut that took place last week and forwarded the findings to President Michel Aoun.

"Already in April 2019, we noticed the security flaws in Department 12 at the port, and did everything necessary to prevent the explosion. We notified the competent authorities of the danger of the materials in the department," it was reported.

Photo: Reuters

This morning it was revealed in the Reuters news agency that two weeks before the explosion in the port of Beirut, senior Lebanese security officials warned the resigning prime minister, Hassan Diab, and the president, Michel Aoun, of a similar incident that could destroy the entire capital. The offices of the Prime Minister and the President did not respond to the report.

"I warned them that the materials could destroy the city in the event of an explosion," said an official who was involved in writing a letter sent to the heads of state. The latter admitted last week that he knew of the existence of the materials in the port but instructed security officials to "take all necessary steps."

The letter sent comes after a chain of memos and letters sent to state courts over six years by officials at the port and customs authorities. They repeatedly sought to order the removal of ammonium nitrate from its location, so close to the city center, "but so far no order has been issued on the matter."

These findings may heighten public criticism and outrage over the blast, which is the latest and most prominent example of government negligence and corruption that has led Lebanon to an economic collapse. As protests continued last night, Diab's government resigned, though he would remain in charge until a new government was formed.

Meanwhile, the AP news agency reported that in the port of Beirut, 20 containers were found with thousands of tons more of ammonium nitrate and hazardous substances, which miraculously did not explode either and caused even greater disaster.

The report is based on information provided by senior members of the French team of experts, who were called to Lebanon after the explosion in order to locate additional hazardous materials. According to the same senior officials, the containers contained ammonium nitrate and other hazardous substances were located following a leak that was discovered in one of them and brought the investigators to the compound.

According to the same sources, the fact that the containers did not explode was "great luck" and thus actually prevented an even greater disaster. According to the report, the French expert delegation was able to seal the leaking containers and now the members of the delegation are working to secure the rest of the containers in order to evacuate them safely from the port in Beirut.

Daniel Sirioti participated in the preparation of the article