Thread by @annaholligan

UN tribunal poised to deliver verdict on four men accused of assasinating Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, in 2005 - we’re in court. Hearing starts in an hour bbc.com/news/world-mid… @BBCNews #Lebanon

This tribunal was set up to answer one question - who assassinated Rafik Hariri?

But the timing has added another dimension.

#Beirut

Judgment comes two weeks after catastrophic explosion ripped through the Lebanese capital. Coronavirus cases surging. Country close to economic collapse.

Chance verdict will hardly make a ripple in some peoples shattered lives but...

#Beirut

For many of the grieving, angry and frustrated, this tribunal could be a model for those calling for an international investigation into who should be held accountable for August 4 blast.

Otherwise they fear the truth will never be known.

#Beirut

But everyone is acutely aware the long-awaited decision also risks inflaming tensions in a deeply fragile state.

First time terrorism charges brought before an international court. But defendants, four low-ranking Hezbollah operatives, have never set foot inside.

Salim Ayyash, Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra & Hassan Merhi accused of conspiring to commit terrorist act, assassination #Beirut

View from inside tribunal, taken from behind bullet proof glass. Limited space inside due to COVID restrictions #Beirut

Rafik Hariri’s son Saad is in court along with other victims - a woman who was five when her father was killed in blast and a young man who was four when he lost his dad #Beirut

Judge noted evidence entirely circumstantial, attack didn’t happen in a political vacuum, highlighted Rafik Hariri’s vocal opposition to Syria’s military and political dominance in Lebanon #Beirut

Judges satisfied explosive device that killed Hariri was detonated by suicide bomber traveling in Mishibishi Canter - suspected bomber was found in many pieces but has never been identified #Beirut

Cell site analysis, co-locating phones (like your work/personal phone), ‘cell dumping’ and patterns of use critical in prosecution case. ‘Red network’ (alleged assasination team) went dark just before blast and never active again #Beirut

Judges convinced Salim Ayyash was using Red phone 741 and was associated with Hezbollah #Beirut

Judges say insufficient evidence to link Hassan Merhi’s two personal mobiles with Green network 071 beyond reasonable doubt #Beirut

Judges say telecoms evidence shows Hussein Oneissi was using phone Purple 095 between Jan 2003 & Feb 2005 #Beirut

On Assad Sabra, judges can’t conclude he was sole user of Purple 018... evidence of geographical footprint weak (sorry I know some of these quick tweets will make little sense if you aren’t following trial) #Beirut

Focus now turns to former Hariri accused believed to have been senior Hezbollah commander killed fighting in Syria 2016 google.nl/amp/s/www.bbc.… #Beirut

Mustafa Amine Badreddine was associated with Green 023 phone, established by co-locating with his personal mobile phones #Beirut

Lebanese investigator Wissam Eid unlocked this case. Anyone impressed by cell-site/co-locating analysis should know his name nytimes.com/2008/01/26/wor… (article h/t @emmamurphyitv) #Beirut

One of the most sophisticated background reads on this case google.nl/amp/s/www.nyti… #Beirut

Court hearing about to resume. Small crowd gathering outside tribunal #Beirut

Judges can’t conclude any of three accused were involved in making false claim of responsibly video (one left close to scene & which Al Jaz were ordered to broadcast #Beirut

Suicide bomber detonated device himself. Thus he was part of conspiracy. But two men who bought truck (in Tripoli, Lebanon) might not have known it was to be used in assassination #Beirut

Judges convinced beyond reasonable doubt of Salim Ayyash’s involvement in conspiracy to assasinate Rafik Hariri #Beirut

One of the defendants, Salim Ayyash found GUILTY of conspiracy to commit terrorist act, assasination of Hariri, deaths of 21 others & 226 injured (who only survived by chance, act was likely to cause death) #Beirut

Although he didn’t act alone, he’s guilty on ALL counts in the indictment #Beirut

Oneissi and Sabra CANNOT be found guilty of found guilty of conspiracy to commit terrorist attack, insufficient evidence they were aware of intention to assassinate Rafik Hariri #Beirut

Merhi cannot be found guilty of coordinating preparation of false claim or activities of others in lead up and in aftermath, judges say ‘he must be acquitted’ #Beirut

VERDICT: Salim Ayyash GUILTY on all five counts - conspiracy to commit terrorist act, committing act with explosive, homicide of Hariri, homicide of 21 others, attempted homicide of 226. All three other defendants NOT GUILTY #Beirut

Judge ends the session by addressing four victims relatives in court: “We hope this gives you some form of closure, something.” #Beirut

Defence lawyers meet the media outside court #Beirut

Saad Hariri leaves court to address the press. Fifteen years since his father was assassinated #Beirut