At least six people were killed and 32 were wounded as shots were fired during a protest by Hezbollah supporters against Tarek Bitar, the judge investigating the Beirut Port blast, in front of the Palais de Justice in Beirut on Thursday, as tensions surrounding the case continued to rise.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for calm and urged the Lebanese people not be drawn into sedition. Lebanon's Central Internal Security Council is set to meet at 1 p.m. in light of the violence.

According to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar news, the protest was meant to "reject the politicization of the investigations into the crime of the Beirut port explosion and to denounce the decisions of Judge Tarek Bitar and the American intervention."

The Lebanese Army has sent reinforcements to the scene of the incident, according to Al-Manar. The Army announced that the protesters were shot at while on their way to the Palais de Justice and that the military was searching for the shooters.

The Lebanese Army warned that it will shoot at anyone armed or anyone shooting and has asked civilians to clear the streets.
The incident comes amid heightening concerns of sectarian violence as Hezbollah and its allies obstruct Bitar's investigation, alleging that Bitar is biased and working for political purposes.

Lebanese newspapers largely featured headlines warning of the collapse of the government and violence in the streets on Thursday morning.
A Lebanese court on Thursday dismissed the latest legal complaint brought against the lead investigator of the Beirut port blast probe, allowing him to resume work, a judicial source and court documents showed.

Lebanese MP Ali Hassan Khalil, an ally of Hezbollah, had filed the complaint after Bitar issued an arrest warrant against him in order to question him on the port blast case.

Khalil told Al-Mayadeen on Tuesday that Bitar’s investigation “is unlawful and surpasses many of the protocols that must be followed.” The MP additionally claimed that the judge had met with a foreign delegation minutes after issuing the arrest warrant for Khalil, implying influence by foreign powers.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah attacked Bitar on Monday, saying the judge is using the case for political goals and does not want to reach the truth about the explosion. Nasrallah also questioned why Bitar questioned only certain ministers and not others.
The MP warned there would be a “political escalation, and perhaps [an escalation] of another kind,” adding that “all possibilities are open,” including taking to the streets.

Khalil claimed the investigation may be part of a regional and internal plan to try to “change balances,” and that he had information that indicates that the investigation has a goal for a certain political group “at the behest of external parties.” On Wednesday, Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah-affiliated MP, outright accused the US of interfering in the investigation.

Sources from Hezbollah and the Marada movement told the Lebanese Al-Jadeed TV news that Bitar was preparing to accuse Hezbollah directly of responsibility for the explosion. The sources added that if Bitar is not removed, they will leave the government.

Samir Gaegea, a Christian opponent of Hezbollah, called on the “free people of Lebanon” to prepare for a peaceful general strike if Bitar’s opponents attempt to impose their will by force. While Gaegea stressed his statement was not a threat, he added he would never accept a “certain reality” being imposed by force.

The families of the blast victims have warned against replacing or intimidating Bitar, “no matter how high the threat level,” telling officials to “keep [their] hands off the judiciary.”

Former MP Mustapha Allouch warned on Wednesday, in an interview with Voice of Lebanon, that an international investigation is needed, and that the current situation is repeating the situation of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, as Hezbollah feels the threads of the investigation pointing at it.