Cypriot police found the Russians Grechushkina. He belonged to the ammonium nitrate that exploded in Beirut
Cypriot police found and questioned a Russian businessman Igor Grechushkina in connection with the explosion of ammonium nitrate in the port of Beirut, reports the Cyprus Mail.
Grechushkin – the former owner of the boat in 2013 in Beirut brought about 2,7 thousand tons of nitrate. Subsequently, the cargo was confiscated, and on August 4, 2020 it caught fire and exploded.
At the request of the Lebanese authorities, the police of Cyprus on August 6 was interrogated by the Russians about the cargo and gave his answers to Lebanon. Details on the questions asked Grechushkina, publishing does not.
A powerful explosion in the port of Beirut occurred on the evening of 4 August. Close to the port areas of Lebanon’s capital damaged or destroyed many buildings. Reuters wrote, citing eyewitnesses that the explosion was of such force that it felt even residents of the capital Nicosia, which is located almost 200 km from Beirut. The television channel Al Jazeera reported that the blast the cars threw him into the roof of the plant about three floors.
Victims were more than 150 people, about 5 thousand wounded and dozens were missing.
The Governor of the Lebanese capital, Marwan Abboud said that the explosion left homeless and up to 300 thousand people. He estimated the damage from the occurrence, at $3-5 billion.
According to preliminary information, the explosion occurred in a warehouse of ammonium nitrate after the fire, caused by welding operations.
In the Lebanese Cabinet said that the employees of the administration of the port of Beirut, which was responsible for the security of ships and goods, sent under house arrest.
According to Reuters, Lebanese officials ignored the proposals of customs to re-export or sale 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate seized from the vessel Rhosus (the ship belonged to Grechushkina) in the port of Beirut. As told the interlocutor of the Agency, a team of inspectors warned that if nitrate is not taken out, “the could take the whole Beirut”.
