Bombs explode, gunmen attack foreign embassies in Libya

A bomb exploded outside the Moroccan embassy in Libya’s capital, a security official said Monday, just hours after a gun attack on the building housing South Korea’s mission to the country. The Moroccan embassy is not currently active, and it was unclear if anyone was inside the building at the time. The bombing came hours after gunmen opened fire on South Korea’s embassy compound from a passing car on Sunday, killing two Libyan guards and wounding a third person. The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for the South Korean attack on Twitter, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

A bomb inside a bag went off near the gate of the Moroccan embassy in Bin Ashour area. There were no casualties.

Tripoli security official

Libya has been plagued by chaos since the end of the 2011 revolt that toppled Moamer Kadhafi, with heavily armed militias battling for control of its cities and oil wealth and rival governments and parliaments vying for power. The country has had two governments and parliaments since Tripoli was seized in August by the Islamist-backed Fajr Libya militia and the internationally recognised government fled to the country’s far east. Tripoli fell to the armed Islamist coalition Libya Dawn last August, when the internationally recognised Libyan government retreated to the eastern town of Tobruk. The city has been plagued by bomb attacks, assassinations and kidnappings. Several embassies, including those of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, have been targeted by militants in similar attacks.

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