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Gunmen storm hotel in Libyan capital; at least 8 killed Gunmen storm hotel in Libyan capital; at least 8 killed
(about 1 hour later)
Gunmen in Libya’s capital stormed a hotel popular with foreigners Tuesday, killing at least eight people in an attack that included a car bomb targeting fleeing staff and guests, news agencies reported.Gunmen in Libya’s capital stormed a hotel popular with foreigners Tuesday, killing at least eight people in an attack that included a car bomb targeting fleeing staff and guests, news agencies reported.
The fate of the attackers was not immediately clear. But a security official, Mahmoud Hamza, told the private al-Nabaa television network that the situation was “under control,” the Associated Press reported.The fate of the attackers was not immediately clear. But a security official, Mahmoud Hamza, told the private al-Nabaa television network that the situation was “under control,” the Associated Press reported.
The seaside Corinthia Hotel, the most prominent in the Libyan capital, is frequented by journalists, business executives and other international envoys, including officials involved in U.N.-brokered talks with Libya’s rival factions. There also were conflicting reports on the tally of the dead. The AP, citing security officials, said the toll included five foreigners and three guards. Other reports said the dead included two of the attackers at the seaside Corinthia Hotel, the most prominent in the Libyan capital.
The hotel is frequented by journalists, business executives and other international envoys, including officials involved in U.N.-brokered talks with Libya’s rival factions.
The AP, citing security officials and hotel staff, said five masked attackers wearing bulletproof vests stormed the hotel after security at the gates tried to stop them. Three guards were killed.The AP, citing security officials and hotel staff, said five masked attackers wearing bulletproof vests stormed the hotel after security at the gates tried to stop them. Three guards were killed.
A hotel staff member told the AP that the gunmen entered the hotel and appeared to fire in random directions. As guests and staff fled out the hotel’s back doors, a car bomb exploded about 100 yards away, the AP reported.A hotel staff member told the AP that the gunmen entered the hotel and appeared to fire in random directions. As guests and staff fled out the hotel’s back doors, a car bomb exploded about 100 yards away, the AP reported.
At least five foreigners were killed during the attack, news reports said, but no further details were immediately given by officials.At least five foreigners were killed during the attack, news reports said, but no further details were immediately given by officials.
The hotel staff member spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution, the AP said.The hotel staff member spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution, the AP said.
He said the hotel had Italian, British and Turkish guests, but that it was largely empty at the time of the attack.He said the hotel had Italian, British and Turkish guests, but that it was largely empty at the time of the attack.
Two Filipino women were wounded by smashed window glass, Reuters reported. It was not immediately clear who staged the attack, but the SITE monitoring service said a militant group claiming links to the Islamic State had claimed responsibility.
Tripoli has been hit with a series of car bombs and shootings in the turmoil that has engulfed the country following its 2011 civil war, which ousted longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Two governments and two parliaments are vying for legitimacy in the country from Tripoli and Benghazi in the east. In a Twitter post, SITE quoted the Islamic State offshoot in Libya as saying the attack was launched in solidarity with a Libyan man suspected of plotting al-Qaeda’s 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Abu Anas al-Libi, whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, died in a New York hospital earlier this month just days before his trial.
Tripoli has been hit with a series of car bombs and shootings in the turmoil that has engulfed the country following its 2011 civil war, which ousted longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. Two governments and two parliaments are vying for legitimacy in the country from Tripoli and Benghazi in the east.
Tripoli is currently controlled by a group called Libya Dawn, which seized the capital in August by expelling a rival force.Tripoli is currently controlled by a group called Libya Dawn, which seized the capital in August by expelling a rival force.
Most recently, a guard was killed in a shootout outside the U.N. headquarters in the city.Most recently, a guard was killed in a shootout outside the U.N. headquarters in the city.