Attack on Police Complex in Benghazi Kills Four
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Version 0 of 1. BENGHAZI, Libya — At least four people were killed after militants attacked a security headquarters here on Thursday night, signaling a sharp escalation in a continuing battle between armed Islamist militants in the city and government forces who have been struggling to assert their authority. The attack on the security directorate building — with rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades, according to the authorities and witnesses — was the latest in a string of attacks on police facilities since last month, when unknown assassins killed Benghazi’s security director outside his home. The attack on Thursday appeared to be an attempt by militants to free suspects held by the police in connection with the death of the security director, Faraj Mohammed al-Drissi, and other assassinations. Two militiamen, a national guard soldier and a police officer were killed in Thursday’s attack, according to local officials. Assassinations, kidnappings and other episodes of mysterious violence have plagued Benghazi from the earliest days of the revolt that overthrew Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi last year. Officials had said the killings largely were carried out by Islamists settling scores with former Qaddafi officials, over jailing or torturing them, or killing their relatives. The weak, fledging government, showing no great sympathy for members of the old government — and with little ability to prosecute anyone — has looked the other way. But in recent months, assailants have singled out security officials in the new government who have tried to rein in dozens of militias that refused to disband after the revolt, setting off a crisis in Benghazi. In September, militants attacked two United States facilities in the city, killing the American ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans. Government officials have complained that they are largely powerless against the better-armed militants. Even militias nominally working with the government have expressed a reluctance to act against other militias, regarding them as fellow revolutionaries with whom they forged deep bonds during the revolt against Colonel Qaddafi. Before the assault on Thursday, protesters had gathered outside the security directorate, which serves as the city’s police headquarters. Witnesses said the group included supporters and relatives of men detained in connection with assassinations in the city, including the killing of Mr. Drissi. Police officers at the scene said that soon after the protest dispersed, armed men appeared and attacked the security building with heavy weapons. It was the second deadly attack by militants on the building this week. The detainees were said to include Salah al-Hami, who belongs to one of Benghazi’s most well-known Islamist clans and was regarded by security officials as a suspect in the killings of former Qaddafi officials. A brother of Mr. Hami’s, Mohamed, who was once a leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, was killed by Colonel Qaddafi’s security services, along with two other brothers and one of Mr. Hami’s uncles. In an interview last year, Mr. Hami, who said he was tortured by the old government, denied any involvement in the killings. The recent violence in Benghazi has exposed a current of civilian anger at the militants. After the killing of Mr. Stevens, residents overran the headquarters of several militias. On Thursday, after the attack on the security directorate, dozens of civilians gathered outside the building, saying they would remain there as human shields, to prevent the militants from attacking again. <NYT_AUTHOR_ID> <p>Osama al-Fitory reported from Benghazi, and Kareem Fahim from Beirut, Lebanon. |