Thread by @Rita_Katz

1) The blast in #Lebanon was staggering in magnitude. The cause is yet to be determined, but hard to ignore timing against upcoming verdict over the killing of ex-PM Rafik #Hariri in 2005. A second possible explosion was also reported at the Hariri residence in the city.

2)Images from the fallout of the blast are devastating, with wide swaths of infrastructure completely demolished. I cant imagine what human cost this will bear:

3)Director General of Lebanese security states explosion was not result of IED, but rather a high-intensity explosive material “confiscated years ago” and held in the now-destroyed facility. Raises questions as to what the facility was, and does not at all exclude foul play.

4)Lebanese security official's statement begs so many questions:

Why were highly explosive materials “confiscated years ago” located near the city’s port? What is the facility & what was it being used for? How vulnerably were they left for whatever/whoever caused this explosion?

5) Nazar Najarian, Sec Gen of Lebanon’s Kataeb Party, reportedly died of injuries from #BeirutBlast. Kataeb is Christian Democratic political party & part of March 14 Alliance headed by Rafic al-Hariri's son Saad. Also reports Ambassador of Kazakhstan injured by blast as well.

6) Update: According to Lebanon's Health Minister, the casualty count from the #BeirutBlast has climbed to 27 dead and 2,500 wounded. Reports that the force was on par with a 4.5-level earthquake. Absolutely devastating.

7)Goes w/o saying #ISIS online community started celebrating the blast, spreading a vid showing a Christian church service violently disrupted by the blast, pics of damage & stating that the event does not compare to travesties in Raqqah and Mosul, yet is given much more sympathy

8) This Bellingcat piece by @N_Waters89 gives a good visual breakdown of the location of the #BeirutBlast
bellingcat.com/news/mena/2020…

9)As more information has been gathered, it appears that the #BeirutExplosion was the result of terrible negligence, unrelated to the political tension in #Lebanon. But it still leaves so many questions that must be answered. How does negligence on such a massive scale occur?

10)Where it stands now, more than 100 people were killed in the blast, with more than 2500 wounded. One death is too many, but it goes without saying that casualties on this scale will require a state-level explanation and atonement.

11)Far-right extremists are spreading misinformation regarding #BeirutBlast, with anti Semitic conspiracy theories accusing #Israel of attacking Hezbollah. Can't say this isn't exactly what I would expect from them.

ent.siteintelgroup.com/Far-Right-/-Fa…

12)The far-right community was further bolstered by @realDonaldTrump's reckless language in suggesting the event was an attack, w/ one user writing "Oh look, top U.S. state officials are already calling it an attack...“They are definitely privy to more information than any of us”