Tarek Bitar

Tarek Bitar is a Lebanese judge and the head of Beirut’s criminal court, who is the second judge to lead the investigation of the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, succeeding Fadi Sawwan who was dismissed by the Lebanese court after charging two former Amal Party ministers over the blast, which was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate negligently stored in the port for over six years. Sawwan's dismissal was objected to by the victims’ families because they feared that it would take the case back to zero. In September 2021, Bitar received a threat by Hezbollah.