France has vowed to punish those responsible for the April 23 car bomb blast at its embassy in Tripoli that destroyed half the building and wounded six—two French guards, and four resident of nearby buildings that were damaged, including an 18-year-old woman who suffered spinal damage. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who immediately flew to Tripoli, vowed: “The terrorists who wanted to attack France and Libya and undermine the friendship between them will pay.” Prime Minister Ali Zeidan visited the scene of the devastation with Fabius. There was no claim of responsibility, but suspicion immediately fell on al-Qaeda’s North African arm, AQIM, which has repeatedly threatened retaliation for the French intervention in Mali. On April 25, two suspects arrested following a lightning investigation led by a French judge and a team of foresnics experts dispatched by Paris. (Libya Herald, Tripoli Post, April 25; Al Jazeera, NYT, April 23)
Militiamen attack Libya gas complex
Militiamen attacked a natural gas complex in Libya’s west May 26, injuring two guards and stealing weapons and military vehicles. The attack targeted the Mellitah Oil and Gas complex near Zwara, about 110 kilometers from Tripoli. The complex is a joint venture between Libya’s National Oil Corp. and Italy’s largest energy company, Eni SpA. Military helicopters are searching for the attackers. (AP, May 26)