By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa
TRIPOLI, Libya – At least six children have been injured by a grenade attack in a Benghazi, Libya school.
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Witnesses say the grenade was thrown over a wall into a private school during a break from lessons.
The blast damaged part of the building and some victims were seriously wounded.
Blasts and assassinations are not uncommon in Benghazi, where security forces are battling Islamist militants tied to the Ansar al-Sharia group. Washington has listed this group as a foreign terrorist organization.
Benghazi, the city from which the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Qaddafi stemmed, saw a series of attacks in recent months as the weak central government has tried to rein in former rebel brigades turned militias.
Fadia al-Barghathi, a spokesperson for Benghazi’s hospital, stated: “The injuries range between light and moderate.”
A security official described the force of the explosion as “weak” and said that a hunt was underway for those behind the attack.
A medic revealed that two of the six children are in critical condition and were taken to the Beghazi medical centre.
The gunmen, later in the night, attacked Al-Saiqa checkpoint at Al-Jala hospital, sparking a firefight, which, thankfully, left no injuries.
Two days ago, the son of Libya’s special forces chief was kidnapped by gunmen in Benghazi.
A military source said the abduction was aimed at pressuring the special forces to bring about the release of prisoners held by the army.
The special forces had announced last month the arrest of four suspects in possession of a hit list of officers to be targeted or had been killed.
Militia brigades often fight “turf wars” for control of areas and businesses, and they have refused to disarm.
For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Libyan blast injures six children at Benghazi school – 5 February 2014
Reuters – Blast at Libya school wounds six children – hospital, security sources – 5 February 2014
Yahoo! News – Blast at school in Libya’s Benghazi wounds six children – 5 February 2014
Al Arabia News – Blast at school in Libya’s Benghazi wounds children – 5 February 2014
The Daily Star – Playground bomb wounds 12 kids in Libya’s Benghazi: medics – 5 February 2014