Several people were killed and dozens more were injured as a result of gunfire in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut on Thursday, local media reported, citing sources in the army.
The gunfire reportedly began at Ain el-Remmaneh neighbourhood when people who were heading to the protest were passing through a nearby traffic circle, prompting an exchange of fire.
A video has emerged online, showing people running in the street and trying to hide in a nearby district.
Also on Thursday, at least two explosions were reported in Beirut after clashes had occurred near a site where a protest related to the 2020 Beirut port blast had to take place.
The Lebanese army has issued a statement, saying that they were looking for those who attacked protesters.
Last month, the investigation into the explosion at the port of Beirut, which killed over 250 people in August 2020, was suspended due to a lawsuit filed against judge Tarek Bitar. The lawsuit was reportedly filed by ex-Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, whom the judge wanted to summon for questioning.
The deadly explosion rocked the port of Beirut on 4 August 2020, killing more than 250 people, injuring 7,000 and leaving about 300,000 people homeless. The blast was blamed on thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port.
