On Friday evening, clashes broke out in the Lebanese capital between members of the state security apparatus and a number of families of victims of the explosion in the port of Beirut, which occurred in August 2020.
The move was made in protest at the arrest of William Noon, one of the victims’ families, by security forces after he was interrogated for several hours.
William is the brother of one of the victims of the explosion, Joe Nun, a member of the fire brigade, who died while on duty fighting a fire that broke out in the port of Beirut before the explosion on August 4, 2020. .
However, the case escalated into a fight and brawl between the families of the victims and security forces, with protesters threatening to escalate and hold street movements if Noone was not immediately released.
Criminals! They attacked the young man, beat him, dragged him out of the car and made a mess of him. #william_noun pic.twitter.com/r3xlETlXdw
— Darin Dandachly Darin Dandachly (@darinedandachly) January 13, 2023
A video clip has been circulated of security forces attacking one of the participants in a sit-in in solidarity with Noone in front of the State Security Office, where he was knocked to the ground and kicked amid protesters’ disapproval, according to the video circulating. Show.
A number of citizens also blocked the main road in the Jbeil area north of Beirut to protest Nun’s arrest.
Noun was investigated along with 13 other people amid protests outside the Palace of Justice in the Lebanese capital demanding justice in the case.
A number of Lebanese MPs visited the State Security Center in solidarity with the people, condemning what they considered “police practices against the families of victims of the explosion in the port of Beirut.”
Lamentation of the mother of the martyr #joe_noun face #police station In Beirut where her son is being held #William _ Noon #william_noun pic.twitter.com/RfNimpy7PJ
— Tony Karam (@TonyFKaram) January 13, 2023
Nun’s arrest, pending investigation, comes amid a court order issued by Judge Zaher Hamade over his statements following protests by families of victims of the port bombing in which he threatened to blow up the Palace of Justice in Beirut. after he was called along with a number of activists to investigate broken glass at the Palace of Justice in Beirut during a popular movement last Tuesday.
The families of the victims of the explosion that killed more than 200 people are calling for the continuation of the investigation into their case, more than a year after it was suspended.
The people are rejecting attempts to appoint a replacement judge for the current judge, Tariq Al-Bitar, who is leading the case accusing the authorities of obstructing the investigation and obstructing justice.
