Shipowner Linked to Beirut Port Blast Arrested in Bulgaria

Bulgarian authorities have arrested a shipowner wanted in connection with the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed more than 220 people and injured over 6,500.

Arrest Details

Igor Grechushkin, one of three individuals sought by Interpol, was detained in Sofia Airport upon arrival from Paphos, Cyprus, according to a Bulgarian judicial source. He is linked to the shipment of ammonium nitrate that caused one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in modern history on 4 August 2020.

A Sofia city court spokeswoman confirmed that Grechushkin has been detained for a maximum of 40 days, a decision issued on 7 September and upheld on appeal. Under Bulgarian law, authorities requesting his extradition have 40 days to submit the necessary documents.

Beirut authorities identified Grechushkin as the owner of the Rhosus, the cargo ship that transported the ammonium nitrate. The vessel, Moldovan-flagged, had sailed from Georgia to Mozambique in 2013.

After arriving in Beirut, the Rhosus reportedly experienced technical problems, and Lebanese authorities impounded the ship following a lawsuit filed by a local company against its owner. The ammonium nitrate was unloaded and stored in a dilapidated port warehouse with visible cracks in its walls.

The Rhosus eventually sank in Beirut port in 2018, leaving the hazardous cargo in storage. The warehouse containing the ammonium nitrate later became the site of the massive 2020 explosion, devastating the Lebanese capital.

Grechushkin’s arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation, as he remains one of the key figures wanted internationally. The investigation into the Beirut port blast, which killed over 220 people, injured thousands, and caused widespread destruction, continues to draw global attention.

Bulgarian authorities will now coordinate with Lebanese officials and Interpol to determine the next steps regarding potential extradition and prosecution.