DISINFO: Ukrainian involvement found in Beirut explosion
SUMMARY
A Ukrainian trace was found in the explosion in Beirut […]. A ship from Mariupol, a Ukrainian city located in close proximity to the conflict zone in Donbas, could have caused an explosion in Lebanon. The vessel delivered a secret cargo from Ukraine to Lebanon, presumably explosives.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory. Powerful explosions occurred in the Beirut port area on the evening of 4 August, as a result of which at least 78 people were killed, about 4,000 were injured, the explosion caused serious damage to several adjacent neighborhoods. The preliminary cause of the powerful explosion is 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate, which was stored for about six years in a warehouse with confiscated goods. Two Ukrainian ships, MERO STAR and RAOUF H, were allegedly in the port of Beirut at the time of the explosion. According to Samir Madani, co-founder of the ship tracking site TankerTrackers, the Ukrainian ships most likely suffered from the explosion, but the ships have nothing to do with the origin of the tragedy. The analyst also added that the Mariupol ship was most likely carrying grain. "These vessels weren't the source of anything explosive other than that they most likely blew up and made things worse.," Madani tweeted. Information about the Ukrainians who were allegedly injured in the explosion in Beirut was being clarified.