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 the distance and entered the area of the explosion 1 minute and 49 seconds before the Hariri convoy. It is estimated that if the pickup truck had continued at the same speed it would have been exactly at the centre of the explosion approximately 1 minute and 9 seconds before the Hariri convoy. It is estimated that if the pickup truck had continued its journey at the same speed without stopping, it would still have been affected by the force of the blast and would most probably have remained at the scene after the explosion. In order to have avoided the explosion, this pickup truck would have had to speed up considerably, immediately after going out of view of the HSBC CCTV camera. There is no evidence to support this.

45. The Lebanese investigating officers have identified the existence of this pickup truck and its suspicious behaviour as an issue that gives rise to a major/critical avenue of investigation. They have identified the make and model of the suspect vehicle as a Mitsubishi Canter pickup truck (possibly a 1995-1996 model). The investigations carried out by the Lebanese security forces have focused predominantly on determining the actual ownership of the truck by attempting to trace its ownership history through vehicle licensing records, border controls and manufacturing or dealership records. During searches for evidence at the site of the explosion, the security forces allegedly discovered parts of a pickup truck that matched the suspect vehicle and that bore evidence of having been involved in an explosion. The police allegedly discovered in excess of 21 parts of this suspect vehicle in and around the area of the explosion. The main thrust of the security force investigation is focused on this one avenue of investigation. The Mission has determined that this truck, as viewed on the CCTV of the HSBC bank, actually existed and had been at the scene as stated, immediately before the explosion that claimed the life of Mr. Hariri. The Mission also accepts the theory of this truck having been involved in the assassination as a credible one, requiring full and extensive investigation. The Lebanese security forces have recovered small parts of a Mitsubishi truck from the crater, and from the surrounding area of the explosion. They have recovered parts of a Mitsubishi truck from the sea adjacent to the explosion. The Mission recovered a piece of metal from the crater resembling metal used in truck parts and bearing evidence that supports the theory of a surface/overground explosion.

46. However, the investigation into this aspect of the case has not been full-fledged or extensive and, in the opinion of the Mission, has been critically and fundamentally damaged owing to the actions and inactions of the security forces on the ground, as follows:

(a) Up to approximately one month after the assassination, little or no attempt had been made by the security forces to determine the movements of this suspect truck immediately prior to, or immediately after, the explosion. This aspect of the investigation could have uncovered vital evidence including: the possible identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators, where the truck was parked immediately before the explosion, and — of critical importance — whether the truck continued on its journey and had no involvement in the assassination at all;

(b) The Mission determined that little or no effort had been made to determine whether the suspect pickup truck continued its journey and that there was little or no effort made to locate CCTV footage or witnesses on the route after the explosion;