Lebanese customs, military and judicial officials have warned of dangers from chemical warehouses in the port of Beirut at least 10 times in the past six years.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said yesterday that he was first informed of the danger from a stockpile of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate at the port of Beirut nearly three weeks ago, then immediately asked the military and agencies

However, Aoun said his responsibility was stopped there, as he did not have the authority to deal with the port issue directly and that previous governments had been informed of the presence of chemical numbers.

More than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, a substance commonly used as fertilizer and explosives, was brought to Beirut by the Moldovan flag ship Rhosus in 2013. These chemicals are an order from an explosives manufacturing company in Mozambique.

The Rhosus train's journey abruptly stopped in Beirut, as the Russian owner is believed to have financial problems and wants to make more money in Lebanon.

The first warning of a potential danger appeared on February 21, 2014, three months after the ship's Rhosus arrived at the port of Beirut.

Colonel Skaff died in March 2017, body was found near his home in Beirut after allegedly falling from above.

On June 27, 2014, Jad Maalouf, a judge in charge of emergency affairs, wrote to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport, warning that the Rhosus vessel was carrying dangerous chemicals and could sink.

Maalouf argued that the authorities should dispose of the ship, remove the ammonium nitrate and "place them in a suitable place with safety measures".

Lebanese television channel LBC reported in October 2015, the military intervened after learning of a delay in handling the shipment.

The military reported to the customs that the chemicals should be dispatched quickly, suggesting to export them.

Before his arrest, the leader of the Lebanese Customs Department Badri Daher said that between 2014 and 2017, he and his predecessor sent six letters to the judge to warn of the dangers of chemical warehouses, trying to promote

Earlier this year, after investigating chemical warehouses, the Lebanese National Security Agency released a five-page report saying they had to be moved, because ammonium nitrate could explode or be hit by terrorists.

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Despite a series of warnings over the years, no action has been taken.

Judge Fadi Akiki, representing the Lebanese government at a military tribunal, said 16 people were arrested for the investigation of the blast in Beirut, adding that more than 18 customs officials, port authorities and visitors

President Aoun admitted that the Lebanese political system is "paralyzed" and in need of "reconsideration" after the disaster, at the same time pledging to "quickly find justice".