Dozens killed as suicide bomber in water truck attacks police training base

A suicide bomber has killed dozens of police officers after driving a water truck laden with explosives into their training school in Libya. The attacker struck as hundreds of recruits were practising their drill inside the training compound in Zliten. The death toll was said to be at least 47 but some reports put it as high as 60, with as many as 200 wounded. No one claimed responsibility for the bombing, the deadliest in the country for years, but an Islamic State affiliate has been trying to gain a foothold in Zliten from its central stronghold of Sirte.

I condemn in the strongest terms today’s deadly suicide attack in Zliten, call on all Libyans to urgently unite in fight against terrorism

UN envoy to Libya Martin Kobler

Libyan officials said they believed there might be dozens more dead. The base, where 400 police recruits were training, was used by the border police, a Zliten security official said. Libya has been beset by chaos since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi and Islamic State has been gaining influence. The country has had rival administrations since August 2014, when an Islamist-backed militia alliance overran Tripoli, forcing the government to take refuge in the east.

Once again the Libyans are mourning victims of an attack. The people of Libya deserve peace and security and… they have a great opportunity to set aside their divisions and work together, united, against the terrorist threat facing their country.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini

Middle East zliten