logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2021
29s

The Blast from Beyond the Headlines

The National Uae
About this episode

On August 4, 2020 the heart of Beirut was ripped apart by a huge explosion caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonating at the city’s port. The National’s Finbar Anderson was one of the thousands injured in the blast – hit by flying shards of glass in his own living room. In a four-part mini-series one year later, he has traced the events of how that tragic day came to pass. Beginning with how the ammonium nitrate ended up in Lebanon, Finbar speaks to the officials who knew it sat at the port for six years and to the victims and their families, whose lives changed forever on that summer’s day. And finally, we examine the fallout in the year since as people demand answers and await the official investigation. Join us from August 2 to August 5 at TheNationalNews.com or on your favourite podcast app. Subscribe to Beyond the Headlines to hear the full story.

Up next
Oct 9
What we know so far about the Gaza ceasefire breakthrough
Palestinians in Gaza took to the streets overnight to celebrate the prospect of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. They welcomed the news of a deal to pause the fighting and release Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The agreement has not yet been signed and it is only the first ... Show More
10m 18s
Oct 7
Stolen moments: Two years of war in Gaza
Almost 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war in Gaza began two years ago after Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel. About 90 per cent of residential buildings have been damaged or destroyed. On average, a child is killed every hour. The toll taken is often mea ... Show More
20m 18s
Oct 3
Reading between the lines of Trump’s Gaza plan
US President Donald Trump’s strategy to end the war in Gaza and prepare for the day after has divided opinion. After two years of failed ceasefire talks, it is the only prospect within reach now that could bring some respite to Palestinians enduring Israel’s relentless war. But i ... Show More
22m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2020
The aftermath of the Beirut explosion
The explosion near Beirut’s port on Tuesday killed 135 people and injured thousands more, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Officials say 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was the cause. According to public records, the chemicals were held at the port for six years, despite ... Show More
20m 23s
Aug 2020
The Day That Shook Beirut
A mangled yellow door. Shattered glass. Blood.A devastating explosion of ammonium nitrate stored at the port in Beirut killed at least 135 people and razed entire neighborhoods on Tuesday. This is what our correspondent in the Lebanese capital saw when the blast turned her apartm ... Show More
22m 29s
Aug 2021
Episode 109 - One year on: Who's responsible for the Beirut Blast?
Discussion of HRW's Beirut Blast report begins at 07:30. Ben and Timour are joined this week by Aya Majzoub, Lebanon and Bahrain researcher at Human Right's Watch, to walk through HRW's mammoth 700+ page report: “They Killed Us from the Inside” An Investigation into the August 4 ... Show More
1h 6m
Apr 2022
Introducing What Happened to the Beirut explosion?
Elias Tarabay remembers Aug. 4, 2020, clearly. He arrived home after having a late lunch with a friend. He was living in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. His house had a balcony that looked out at the city’s ports. Just as he settled in, he heard a loud explosion. Tarabay was ... Show More
39m 53s
Aug 2020
What’s gone wrong in Lebanon?
The massive explosion that tore through Beirut on August 4th left more than 200 people dead, 6,000 injured, and as many as 300,000 homeless. The explosion was caused by a fire that ignited 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port. When the blast hit, Lebanon was already ... Show More
23m 56s
Aug 2020
42/"It Sounded Like The World Itself Was Breaking Open": The Beirut Explosion (with Lina Mounzer)
I spoke with Lebanese writer and translator Lina Mounzer about witnessing and experiencing the Beirut explosion on August 4th,  2020. So far there are 157 deaths, 5,000 injuries, US$10–15 billion in  property damage and an estimated 300,000 people left homeless. The blast was lin ... Show More
46m 56s
Aug 2020
News Digest: The world scrambles to aid Lebanon in the aftermath of Beirut Explosion
This week, we tackle the aftermath of the massive explosion that shook Lebanon’s capital Beirut on August 4.The cataclysmic blast at Beirut’s port claimed the lives of at least 171 people and injured around 6,500 others. About half the city was left damaged or destroyed, with hun ... Show More
9m 29s
Aug 2020
Jacobin Radio: Lebanon special
Suzi talks to Gilbert Achcar about the horrific explosion, on August 4, in his native Lebanon. Nearly 3000 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been sitting in the port of the City for seven years ignited, leaving hundreds dead, thousands injured, and hundreds of thousands homeless. ... Show More
34m 5s