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| Gaddafi loyalists held over deadly blasts in Libyan capital | Gaddafi loyalists held over deadly blasts in Libyan capital |
| (4 months later) | |
| Libyan security officials say they have arrested 32 members of an organised network loyal to the country's deposed leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in connection with explosions that killed two people in the capital on Sunday. | Libyan security officials say they have arrested 32 members of an organised network loyal to the country's deposed leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in connection with explosions that killed two people in the capital on Sunday. |
| The car bombings, which were the first fatal attacks of their kind since Gaddafi's overthrow and death, took place near interior ministry and security buildings in Tripoli on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the city to rebel fighters. | The car bombings, which were the first fatal attacks of their kind since Gaddafi's overthrow and death, took place near interior ministry and security buildings in Tripoli on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the city to rebel fighters. |
| Ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scenes of the blasts, while a large numbers of police were deployed to cordon off the sites and remove the charred vehicles and other debris. | Ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scenes of the blasts, while a large numbers of police were deployed to cordon off the sites and remove the charred vehicles and other debris. |
| The first bomb blew up near the interior ministry's administrative offices in Tripoli but caused no casualties, security sources told Reuters. On arriving at the site, police found another car bomb that had not blown up. | The first bomb blew up near the interior ministry's administrative offices in Tripoli but caused no casualties, security sources told Reuters. On arriving at the site, police found another car bomb that had not blown up. |
| Minutes later, two car bombs exploded near the former headquarters of a women's police academy, which the defence ministry has been using for interrogations and detentions, the sources said, killing two civilians and wounding three. | Minutes later, two car bombs exploded near the former headquarters of a women's police academy, which the defence ministry has been using for interrogations and detentions, the sources said, killing two civilians and wounding three. |
| "The [victims] were two young men in their 20s. They drove past the police academy precisely at the time of the explosion," a security source said. | "The [victims] were two young men in their 20s. They drove past the police academy precisely at the time of the explosion," a security source said. |
| The blasts, which caused minor damage to the buildings and shattered windows of nearby cars and buildings, took place early in the day as worshippers prepared for mass morning prayers marking Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration that marks the end of the fasting month, Ramadan. | The blasts, which caused minor damage to the buildings and shattered windows of nearby cars and buildings, took place early in the day as worshippers prepared for mass morning prayers marking Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration that marks the end of the fasting month, Ramadan. |
| The 32 people were arrested after security forces raided several locations in and around Tripoli, tipped off by what a security official said were leads from "closed-circuit street cameras and intelligence". | The 32 people were arrested after security forces raided several locations in and around Tripoli, tipped off by what a security official said were leads from "closed-circuit street cameras and intelligence". |
| The official, from the supreme security committee, which has been supervising security matters since Gaddafi's fall, told Reuters that links between the group and the attacks "have been established". | The official, from the supreme security committee, which has been supervising security matters since Gaddafi's fall, told Reuters that links between the group and the attacks "have been established". |
| The BBC reported that Tripoli's security chief, Col Mahmoud Sherif, blamed Gaddafi supporters for the attacks, claiming they received financial backing from contacts based in neighbouring countries. | The BBC reported that Tripoli's security chief, Col Mahmoud Sherif, blamed Gaddafi supporters for the attacks, claiming they received financial backing from contacts based in neighbouring countries. |
| The latest attacks will test the mettle of the national assembly, which made improving security a priority when it assumed control this month from the national transitional council of opposition forces that toppled Gaddafi. Its main task will be containing various armed groups, mostly militias that took part in the uprising and refuse to lay down their weapons. | The latest attacks will test the mettle of the national assembly, which made improving security a priority when it assumed control this month from the national transitional council of opposition forces that toppled Gaddafi. Its main task will be containing various armed groups, mostly militias that took part in the uprising and refuse to lay down their weapons. |
| Some observers in Libya have pointed out that the government has blamed violent attacks in the past on Gaddafi loyalists as security forces try to assert control over some of these armed groups. | Some observers in Libya have pointed out that the government has blamed violent attacks in the past on Gaddafi loyalists as security forces try to assert control over some of these armed groups. |
| A small bomb on Monday hit the car of an Egyptian diplomat in Libya's second city, Benghazi, according to the Libyan authorities, although it was unclear if the incident was related to Sunday's bombings. | A small bomb on Monday hit the car of an Egyptian diplomat in Libya's second city, Benghazi, according to the Libyan authorities, although it was unclear if the incident was related to Sunday's bombings. |
| No one was hurt in the Benghazi incident, which hit the car of the deputy at the Egyptian consulate in an upmarket Benghazi district that houses foreign diplomats. | No one was hurt in the Benghazi incident, which hit the car of the deputy at the Egyptian consulate in an upmarket Benghazi district that houses foreign diplomats. |
| Maged al-Urfi, Benghazi internal security spokesman, told Reuters that a small amount of explosives was in the device, not enough to injure passengers. "This is meant to send a message, not hurt," he said. | Maged al-Urfi, Benghazi internal security spokesman, told Reuters that a small amount of explosives was in the device, not enough to injure passengers. "This is meant to send a message, not hurt," he said. |
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