Lebanon's top prosecutor has sought to freeze European bank accounts belonging to central bank chief Riad Salameh, a senior judicial source said, days after five European states seized assets related to embezzlement probes.

Salameh is facing investigations in Lebanon and five European countries into the alleged embezzlement of some $330 million in public funds with the help of his brother, Raja, charges they have both denied.

Europe's criminal justice coordination body on Monday said 120 million euros of Lebanese assets had been frozen in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco and Belgium linked to an embezzlement investigation. German prosecutors said the move was tied to probes into Salameh.

The senior judicial source confirmed to Reuters that Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Wednesday sent a letter to Lebanon's Justice Ministry informing it that he had requested the freezing of assets belonging to Salameh and his associates in Swiss, French, Belgian, German and Luxembourg banks.

The source said the letter came as part of Salameh's prosecution for embezzlement, tax evasion and money laundering.

Since Lebanon's financial collapse began in 2019, Riad Salameh has faced growing scrutiny of his nearly three decades as head of the Banque du Liban (BDL). He says his wealth was acquired in his time as a banker before he became governor and the probes against him are politically motivated.