Bulgarian authorities have detained Igor Grechushkin, the Russian owner of a cargo ship linked to the ammonium nitrate at the heart of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Lebanese judicial officials said.
The arrest comes nearly five years after Lebanese investigators issued Interpol warrants for Grechushkin and the ship’s captain, Boris Prokoshev, also a Russian national. Grechushkin, who holds Cypriot citizenship as well, was taken into custody at Sofia’s Vasil Levski airport after arriving from Cyprus.
Lebanese officials are preparing papers to request his transfer for questioning. If Bulgaria does not comply, investigators may travel to Sofia to interview him.
The explosion on 4 August 2020 killed at least 218 people, injured more than 6,000, and caused billions of dollars in damage across Beirut. No Lebanese officials have yet been convicted over the incident.
Earlier this year, Lebanon elected President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and a Cabinet pledging to complete the port investigation and hold those responsible to account. Investigative judge Tarek Bitar has since summoned senior political, judicial, and security officials as part of renewed efforts to advance the case.
The investigation into Grechushkin’s role is ongoing.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 5 October 2026. These are the top five elections making headlines around the world.
The United States has withdrawn all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, just a week after several people were arrested over an alleged plot targeting the air base.
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for 29 November in a bid to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government's key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.
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