ANGRY CROWDS PROTEST IN BEIRUT'S STREETS AGAÍNST THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT

Protesters in Beirut call for the Lebanese government's resignation as sixteen have been arrested over the deadly blast.  Sixteen individuals have been brought into custody by the Lebanese authorities as part of the investigation over the terrible explosion.

The European Union announced the release of 33 million euros in emergency aid to Lebanon to help cover the immediate needs of emergency services and hospitals in Beirut.  A donor conference is also planned to mobilise additional funding for reconstruction after the assessment of what is required. Many have accused the authorities of corruption, neglect and mismanagement.

On Wednesday, the government announced that a number of port officials were put under house arrest, pending an investigation into the explosion.  The country's Supreme Defence Council insisted that those found responsible would face the "maximum punishment".

Meanwhile, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for an independent investigation into the blast.  In a statement, HRW said it had "serious concerns about the ability of the Lebanese judiciary to conduct a credible and transparent investigation".

Suspicions of sabotage have been circulating in social media.  In a video circulating show smaller explosions and then the fire, followed by an enormous blast, which led to clearly suggesting that it happened at a firework factory.  Claims about fireworks seemed reasonable at the time but viral tweets suggested that the event was caused by a nuclear bomb, because of the white mushroom-like cloud rising.

Unfounded claims continued to spread, blaming the "nuclear bomb" on the USA, Israel and Hezbollah.  These were shared by partisan news sites as well as public figures.

Chloe Colliver

Chloe Colliver, from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, told BBC News "We have such known disinformation sources, including far-right extremist networks online, spreading unfounded claims about the nature and motivations about the blast.  "This has included theories trying to tie the explosion on Israel and other states."



It is curiously frightening that after this terrible disaster, fake news complicates the matter placing blame on states that have no connection with the horrible event. 

An Olive Twig for Peace