Blast erupts in Beirut ahead of ex-PM's political assassination verdict, see post-blast scene

Beirut / Lebanon, Ta. 5 August 2020, Wednesday

The Lebanese capital, Lebanon, was rocked by a blast before the verdict on the political assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. The blast at noon shook many parts of the capital and sent black smoke billowing from the city. The blast was so fast that the windows and roofs of several houses were shattered.

A UN tribunal verdict on the political assassination of former Beirut Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 has come before a bomb blast in Beirut. The blast caused extensive damage to the port. The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a crowd of mourners, killing at least two people and wounding dozens more, Lebanon's Health Minister Hamad Hassan said.

Hariri was killed in a car bomb blast in downtown Beirut in February 2005. Knowing this, the Sunni businessman got involved in politics and was assassinated.