Beirut Blast: the investigation finally completed

On Monday 30 March, Judge Tarek Bitar announced having completed his investigation into the 4 August 2020 Beirut port explosion and has transmitted the case file to the Public Prosecutor for review. This is a very important news for the families of the victims and the survivors, including those represented by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW).

This also marks a significant procedural milestone in a case that has been repeatedly obstructed for years by political interference, legal challenges, and institutional paralysis. The investigation now concerns approximately 70 defendants, reflecting the scale of responsibility for one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history.

Under Lebanese criminal procedure, the Public Prosecutor will now examine the file and issue his opinion, after which it will be returned to Judge Bitar, who is expected to issue the final indictment. This next phase will be critical in determining whether the case can finally move toward trial before the Judicial Council.

Since the earliest stages of the investigation, LAW has been representing victims and survivors of the explosion, working alongside them to pursue accountability both in Lebanon and internationally. This includes supporting victims’ participation in domestic proceedings, engaging with international accountability mechanisms, and pursuing strategic litigation in foreign jurisdictions.

LAW remains cautiously optimistic, while echoing the calls of victims’ families for swift and meaningful progress. The words of Mireille Khoury, who lost her son Elias in the explosion, demonstrate that the fight for justice continues: “We urge that the Public Prosecutor finalise his review as soon as possible, that all concerned take proactive steps to ensure accountability for those charged, and that all necessary steps are cleared so that accountability and justice are fully served.”

2GBPWAC Beirut, Lebanon, 4 August 2021. Relatives of people killed in the Beirut Blast stand in front of a now iconic grain silo destroyed in the explosion, contemplating the spot where it happened on the one year anniversary of one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.

While the completion of the investigation is an important step, it does not in itself deliver justice. More than five years after the explosion killed over 220 people and devastated Beirut, no trial has yet taken place and victims continue to be denied truth, accountability, and reparations. LAW urges the Lebanese authorities to ensure that this next phase proceeds without further obstruction, and that all those responsible – regardless of rank – are held accountable in line with the rule of law. Victims must remain at the centre of the process and be guaranteed their rights to participation and reparation.

The international community must continue to support judicial independence and accountability efforts, including through international cooperation and oversight where necessary.
LAW stands with victims and survivors in their continued pursuit of justice and will remain fully engaged to ensure that this case proceeds to a fair and effective conclusion.