Originally published by RT.com.
https://cdni.rt.com/files/2021.10/thumbnail/6167f7e985f5405929676ea8.JPG
Heavy gunfire rang out during violent clashes that have claimed at least two lives in Beirut amid protests against the lead judge investing last year’s deadly Beirut blast, with the Lebanese army deployed to squash the unrest.
On Thursday, scenes of unrest uploaded to Twitter showed people running frantically throughout Beirut around the Justice Palace area, with sirens blaring in the background and what sounded like several rounds of gun shots.
#Lebanon#BREAKING ongoing clashes right now in Beirut around the Justice Palace (Badaro/Tayyouneh side) amid a protest for Hezbollah, Amal supporters. It’s not certain who is shooting but these areas are inhabited with a majority of Lebanese Forces supporters. pic.twitter.com/gFJbcxcZ0k
— Luna Safwan – لونا صفوان (@LunaSafwan) October 14, 2021
One graphic video on the social media platform captured heavy gunfire and screaming and a seriously injured man being dragged through the streets bleeding.
In a statement uploaded to the Lebanese army’s Twitter account, the military said that its soldiers will gun down any armed man on the road and anyone who shoots from elsewhere. It also said that its unit had asked civilians to evacuate the streets and that searches were underway to find the assailants.
Lebanon’s Red Cross confirmed that at least two people have been killed and several injured. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for the arrest of the perpetrators of the violence in the capital.
The protests come shortly after the Lebanese court dismissed a case put forward by two politicians, the ex finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former public works minister Ghazi Zeiter, who were due to stand in the docks in the Beirut blast probe earlier this week.
Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator, had his probe suspended for the second time in under three weeks on Tuesday after Khalil, a senior member of the Shiite Amal movement and an ally of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, and Zeiter, also close to the movement complained.
Originally published by RT.com.
Author: RT
RT creates news with an edge for viewers who want to Question More. RT covers stories overlooked by the mainstream media, provides alternative perspectives on current affairs, and acquaints international audiences with a Russian viewpoint on major global events. With its first international news channel launched in 2005, RT is now a global, round-the-clock news network of eight TV channels, broadcasting news, current affairs, and documentaries, with digital platforms in six languages and sister news agency RUPTLY. Round-the-clock news channels in English, Arabic, Spanish, and documentary channel RT Doc, in English and Russian, broadcast from Moscow, while RT America airs from Washington, RT UK from London, and RT France from Paris. Today, RT is available in more than 100 countries spanning five continents.
