Bomb destroys police station in Libya's Benghazi

Image
AFP Tripoli
Last Updated : May 02 2013 | 3:30 PM IST
A bomb destroyed a police station in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi early today but caused no casualties, a security source said, in a second attack targeting the building.
"An explosive device was thrown at Al-Baraka police station in Benghazi, destroying what remained of the building after the bomb attack that targeted it last weekend," the source said.
"The explosion caused no casualties," he added.
An AFP journalist at the scene confirmed that the blast destroyed the building at around 7:00 am (0500 GMT).
A wave of assassinations and bombings has swept Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 uprising against Moamer Kadhafi, in recent months.
Today's attack came after several weeks of relative calm in the city, where the authorities have struggled to re-establish security.
Attacks in Benghazi have generally been attributed to radical Islamists, most notably last year's September 11 assault on the US consulate that killed four Americans including ambassador Chris Stevens.
In the capital Tripoli, gunmen have been surrounding the foreign ministry since Sunday, calling for the sacking from government posts of former officials from the ousted Kadhafi regime.
On Tuesday, the groups extended their blockade to the justice ministry and gunmen briefly occupied the finance ministry on Monday.
Angry policemen also invaded the interior ministry on Sunday and Monday, demanding higher pay and promotions.
Former rebels guarding the headquarters of Libya's national television station on Sunday briefly blockaded the building, although broadcasts were uninterrupted.
The rise in violence came after a car bombing on April 23 outside the French embassy in Tripoli wounded two French security guards and caused serious damage.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 02 2013 | 3:30 PM IST

Next Story