Beirut Explosion Likely Sparked by Maintenance at Warehouse, According to U.S. Assessment – The Wall Street Journal

BEIRUT—Maintenance work likely led to the explosion of a large cache of ammonium nitrate that devastated a large part of the Lebanese capital last week, a U.S. government assessment concluded, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The assessment adds to the emerging picture of what caused the Aug. 4 blast that killed more than 160 people, with at least 60 others still missing. The explosion has stoked public outrage toward Lebanon’s government, with many protesters demanding justice after the explosive material was…