Explosion in a Beirut Restaurant, Owner Arrested
The public prosecutor at the Court of Appeals in Beirut, Judge Zaher Hamadeh, ordered on Tuesday evening, the arrest of the owner of Pizza Secret restaurant, where nine people died by asphyxiation in a fire caused by the explosion resulting from a gas leak. Two other people were injured, according to a statement from the Civil Defense.

“A unit from the Beirut Fire Brigade managed to control the fire,” the statement read. The restaurant located in the Ghannageh building on Bechara al-Khoury Street in Beirut was completely ravaged by the fire.

According to Beirut Governor, Marwan Abboud, the restaurant does not have a license to operate.

The explosion occurred in an area housing several government offices, including the Import Directorate of the Ministry of Finance and the National Litani Authority.
“Forensics services will conduct an investigation,” and “the judiciary will determine the party responsible” for the fire, stated caretaker Minister of the Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, who visited the scene.

Meanwhile, Beirut MP, Ibrahim Mneimneh, stressed that “this tragic accident shows that the place does not meet public safety standards.” Speaking at the scene, he called on the relevant authorities to “conduct a transparent investigation.”

The accident was also condemned by MP Fouad Makhzoumi.

 

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