Zliten truck bombing
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| Zliten truck bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of Libyan Civil War (2014–present) | |
 Location of Muqub District in Libya | |
| Location | Zliten, Murqub District, Libya |
| Date | 7 January 2016 |
| Target | Policemen |
Attack type | Suicide Truck bombing |
| Deaths | 50-55+ |
| Injured | 100-127+ |
| Perpetrators | Islamic State (suspected) |
On 7 January 2016, suspected Islamic militants detonated a truck bomb at police training camp al-Jahfal in the the coastal town of Zliten, Libya. Medical sources had initially said 65 people had been killed, including some civilians. But Libyan health ministry spokesman Ammar Mohammed Ammar said 50 to 55 people had been killed and at least 100 wounded and that victims were being treated in several hospitals. Libyan news agency LANA reported at least 50 people died. The news agency quoted the director of the town's hospital, Abdel-Motleb bin Halim, saying 127 had been wounded. Concrete buildings inside the compound were charred from the blast and their windows blown out and nearby cars had been turned into black and twisted metal wrecks by the blast. Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, said the blast was a suicide attack. No group claimed responsibility No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suicide bombings and car bombings have increased in Libya as Islamic State militants have taken advantage of the chaos caused by the Second Libyan Civil War to expand their presence.[1][2][3][4]
This incident was the deadliest millitant attack since the 2011 Libyan revolution, followed by Al Qubbah bombings which claimed the lives of 40 people in February 2015.[5]
Reaction
Libya
- Deputy defence minister for the Tripoli-based New General National Congress, Mohammad Bashir al-Naas, vowed to avenge the attack. "The perpetrator is not known but he is a coward. He kills our sons from the shadows. We must avenge them and do everything possible to protect them," Naas told a news conference.[4]
International
United Nations: Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, called for unity in the wake of the attack, saying implementing the political agreement was crucial. Kobler wrote on Twitter: "I condemn in the strongest terms today's deadly suicide attack in Zliten, call on all Libyans to urgently unite in fight against terrorism".[4]
Egypt: In an official press release, the foreign ministry of Egypt said that the "despicable acts of terrorism" in the city of Zliten affirm once again the urgency of supporting the legitimate security apparatuses in Libya, including the Libyan national army.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Truck bomb kills nearly 50 at Libyan police academy". Reuters. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ "Libya truck bomb targets police recruits in Zliten". BBC News. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ "Dozens killed in bomb attack on Libyan police academy". Al Jazeera. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "More than 50 dead in bombing at Libya police school". Daily Mail. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Egypt 'strongly condemns' suicide attack on Libyan police school". Al-Ahram. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.