A US contractor spotted and reported the ammonium nitrate that led to last week's deadly explosions, during a security inspection to the Port of Beirut in 2016, the New York Times reported Tuesday.“The diplomatic cable, marked unclassified but sensitive, was issued by the United States Embassy in Lebanon on Friday,” the New York Times said about a cable that included the details of the contractor’s findings who was working with the US Army at the time.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The contractor was a consultant and advised the Lebanese Navy from 2013 to 2016, the cable read.Al Arabiya English could not independently confirm the cable and the State Department did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Read more: Hezbollah softens stance on Israel maritime border dispute after Lebanese rageA US official spoke to the NYT on the condition of anonymity. The official revealed that the contractor made an unofficial visit to the Port of Beirut, but “was not at the time a US government or State Department employee.”And according to the official, the State Department had no record of the contractor’s finding until after the Aug. 4 explosions.This comes after Reuters cited official documents and Lebanese security officials as warning resigned-Prime Minister Hassan Diab and President Michel Aoun last month that the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the port had the potential to destroy the capital.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US contractor inspected Port of Beirut in 2016, warned about explosive chemicals: NYT
