Assassinations Continue in Benghazi
The string of assassinations continued in Benghazi over the last two weeks with 9 assassinations and 2 attempted assassinations. After a relatively calm first week of October, an assassination attempt on 9 October against bomb disposal expert Captain Ismail Mohamed Al-Shareef Al-Saiti was unsuccessful after the al-Saiti escaped from minor injuries after a bomb exploded underneath his vehicle (LH). Two days later a bomb took the life of Salafi Imam Abd al-Salam al-Hasi as he was driving in his vehicle after deliver his Friday Khutba. Al-Haasi had been openly critical of the series of assassinations in Benghazi (al-Manar). On 13 October, unknown gunmen killed Lt. Col. Abdul Fattah Emhemed al-Riani of the Libyan Air Force (QN) and an attempt was made on the life of LTC Abd al-Salam al-Dous, a former officer long involved in anti-drig efforts (QN). On 14 October, an officer in the military prosecution office was killed by a megnetic IED (el-Fajr). On 15 October, three Libyan army soldiers were killed in two separate incidents (AJ, Shorouknews). On 18 October, the Chief of Libya’s Military Police, Colonel Ahmed Mustafa Al-Barghathi, was shot outside his house when leaving for mosque (LH). There were also reports of bomb attacks against two police stations, though no casualties were reported (LH), in addition to a bomb attack against the Swedish/Finish Consulate which also resulted in no casualties (LH).View Larger Map
Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Bengahzi, 1-18 October. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
Derna Assassinations Target Security Personnel
A series of attacks targeted security personnel in Derna this week. A 9 October attack killed Saad Abdulrazaq Bu Dahab Al-Mansouri, a member of the criminal investigation department (LH) while a 17 October attack killed local army commander General Hussein Hinshir (LH). A member of the Supreme Committee for National Forces Alliance Safwan Mohammad Abdul Hafeez Almsora survived an assassination attempt on Friday morning as he was heading to his home in the Shiha West neighborhood (Libya.tv) while a bomb targeted the house of a Libyan air force officer (Libyann). An interesting article from Libya News Network takes a look at who is behind the string of assassinations in Derna. Attacks there have targeted former members of Qaddafi's security services, both those who supported the revolution and those who stayed out of the fight, or fled and returned to Derna after Qaddafi's fall. The article points to the long history of Islamist mobilization in Derna and resulting repression and brutality by the Qaddafi regime as laying a groundwork of grievances that motivate the current cycle of violence (LNN).
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Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Derna, 1-18 October. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
Events Across Libya
Several high-profile events topped the headlines across Libya this week. Prime Minister Ali Zeidan found himself under attack twice this week. On 7 October dozens of soldiers occupied Zeidan's office while he was in Morocco to protect unpaid wages (GN). The more serious attack came on the 10th when armed militiamen seized Zeidan at gunpoint at 3.30am in his hotel in central Tripoli (LH). The Russian Embassy was ransacked by a mob on 2 October (LH). A 5 October ambush at a checkpoint between Tarhuna and Bani Walid left 15 soldiers dead and 4 wounded.
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Above: Interactive map of security incidents in Libya, 1-18 October. To explore, zoom and pan to specific locations. Click on each incident for details and sources.
