While the official narrative of yesterday’s massive explosion in Beirut remains ‘some chemicals in a warehouse’, President Trump told reporters Tuesday evening after a meeting with US generals that “They seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind.”
Without providing any evidence, President Trump claims the explosion in #Beirut is a result of an attack.
This contradicts the official statement of the Lebanese prime minister. @akhbarpic.twitter.com/QbfiS6DN68
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 4, 2020
Referring to “our great generals”, Trump said that “According to them – they would know better than I would – but they seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind.”
The blast was so massive that it levelled buildings up to ten miles away, and was felt in Cyprus, over a hundred and forty miles away.
The actual moment when a massive explosion rocked #Lebanon’s capital city #Beirut pic.twitter.com/zHEpxeTJYC
— eurochan.org (@eurochandotorg) August 4, 2020
This guy was easily 1.5 to 2 miles away!!#Beirut pic.twitter.com/MKtp32nvqx
— Its_skagg (@ItsSkagg) August 4, 2020
My city Beirut after the explosion. What a tragedy. It's too much to bear
@akhbar pic.twitter.com/2GVePyZMOT
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 4, 2020
Just received from a colleague in Lebanon. #Beirut pic.twitter.com/k3oAzGWMwv
— Charles Lawley تشارلز لأولي (@CharlesLawley) August 4, 2020
Beirut has been declared a ‘disaster zone’ by Lebanon’s defense council, and the health ministry has raised the death toll to over 100 killed, with some 4000 wounded.
The US embassy warned that “There are reports of toxic gases released in the explosion so all in the area should stay indoors and wear masks if available.”
Beirut port after explosion.
Fully destroyed. Too much bodies to count. #beirutexplosion @akhbar pic.twitter.com/TYMVx0WZVo
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 4, 2020
Hospitals in #Beirut turning away injured people with blood streaming down their faces because they're too full or damaged to take them in pic.twitter.com/HSXzwCBICP
— Maya Gebeily (@GebeilyM) August 4, 2020
Beirut is like war zone at the moment. The number of people died is unknown. There is a massive destruction in the city.
Our prayers are with Lebanese brothers and sisters. #Beirut #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/sVNlWVSxc2
— Selami Haktan (Eng) (@slmhktn_eng) August 4, 2020
The Prime Minister of Lebanon claimed that around 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that was left unsecured for many years was to blame for the explosion.
BREAKING: Lebanese Prime Minister says #Beirut explosions caused by an estimated 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate left unsecured for 6 years in a warehouse. He vows to punish officials responsible. 50+ dead, 3,000 injured, hospitals overwhelmed.
— Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) August 4, 2020
Moeen Hamza, who heads Lebanon's Council for Scientific Research, blames pure "negligence" for the Beirut port explosion in an interview aired on Al-Jadeed.
The confiscated store of what is believed to have been ammonium nitrate should have been monitored around the clock.
— Alison Meuse (@AliTahmizian) August 4, 2020
Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah both denied having any involvement.
Israeli military sources tell Israeli 10 News reporter: Israel didn't bomb Beirut. The explosion did not occur in a Hezbollah weapons depot. This was not a security-related event. https://t.co/hgDXFVxZdH
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) August 4, 2020