By Iain Fraser - Consultant Editor
www.GEOPoliticalMatters.com
Google Indexed at 08:01 on 05/08/2020
The explosion occurred just after 18:00 (15:00 GMT) yesterday (04/08/2020 after a fire started at the port. The city was shaken by the blast and a mushroom cloud could be seen billowing over the port area. The huge blast was felt 240km (150 miles) away on Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean, with residents reporting an earthquake.
Latest reports say that the blast killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others including several Britons. A search and rescue operation is still under way to locate more than 100 people missing still missing.
Intelligence commentators in the Lebanese capital immediately pointed the finger towards Israel. Although Israel was quick to deny the claims the operation has all the hallmarks of a Mossad operation and follows close on the heels of the recent series of "unexplained" explosions in Tehran.
The country´s President Michel Aoun said the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse. Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertiliser in agriculture, however it has devastating explosive effects when detonated. Other than the devastating effects of the blast, Ammonium nitrate releases toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas.
He scheduled an urgent cabinet meeting for this morning (05/08/2020) and said a two-week state of emergency should be declared. The Lebanon will immediately observe an official period of mourning for three days.
However, Defence commentators poured scorn on that official line suggesting that the Lebanese have invented the ship full of fireworks story to cover the truth claiming that the explosion was consistent with a missile attack or a guided bomb dropped by a fighter aircraft.
About Ammonium Nitrate
Formula: NH4NO3
Detonation velocity: 2500 m/s
GHS Signal word: Danger
Main hazards: Explosive, Oxidizer
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