West Asia

2 killed in attack on South Korea embassy in Tripoli

c5588238-6140-4c7d-bd60-3be2569fa883

Unidentified gunmen have attacked South Korea’s embassy in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, killing at least two security guards, the Asian country’s Foreign Ministry says.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Sunday that armed men fired dozens of rounds at the embassy from a passing vehicle, killing two guards and leaving a third injured.

A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said three South Korean nationals working at the embassy, including two diplomats, were unhurt in the attack.

The official also said that it was unclear if the attackers targeted the embassy or the Libyan security guards, adding that the ministry was considering removing all its staff members from Libya.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the embassy attack; however, security officer Mabrouk Abu-Bakr told the Chinese news agency Xinhua that the attackers belonged to the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group.

A file photo of Libyan militants

A number of embassies in Libya, including those of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, have been targeted in the past year by militants in similar attacks.

In addition, two bomb explosions took place in February outside the residence of the Iranian ambassador in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, causing minor damage to the empty building.

Libya plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising against the dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.

The country has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups, which refuse to lay down arms.

Back to top button