In the latest sign of Libya's descent into chaos, gunmen stormed a luxury hotel used by diplomats and businessmen in the capital Tuesday, killing 10 people, including an American, a French citizen and three people from Asia.
Two attackers were killed following an hourslong standoff that included a car bomb that exploded in the parking lot of the seaside Corinthia Hotel. It was unclear if other gunmen were involved in the attack, which also killed five Libyan guards.
Twitter posts and a statement on social media purported to say a Tripoli affiliate of the Islamic State group was behind the attack. However, there was little evidence outside of that to back up the claims in a country awash in armed extremist groups who would be equally suspect.
The SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S.-based militant monitoring group, reported that the two dead gunmen were identified online as sympathizers of the Islamic State group and said they targeted the hotel because it houses diplomatic missions and "crusader" security companies. However, The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the claims, which didn't conform with the group's earlier postings from Libya.
Militants claiming the attack on behalf of a group called the Islamic State of the Tripoli Province posted a brief video showing burned cars in the hotel's parking lot and said it was to avenge the 2013 abduction by American commandos of a Libyan al-Qaida operative, Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, also known as Abu Anas al-Libi. Al-Libi died earlier this month in a New York hospital of complications from liver surgery while awaiting trial for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The hotel assault highlights the growing threat from militant groups that operate with near impunity in Libya, a country torn between rival governments, tribes and militias since the 2011 toppling and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The country's post-Gaddafi transition has collapsed, with two rival governments and parliaments — each backed by different militias — ruling in the country's eastern and western regions.
Amid the bloody political rivalry, multiple armed groups have emerged, including radical Islamic militias who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, including one based in the eastern city of Derna, a stronghold of radical groups.
(Pictures of two of the Corinthia Hotel in Libya attackers)
Tripoli, controlled by Islamic militiamen mostly from the western city of Misrata since the summer, has been hit with a series of car bombs and shootings. The internationally recognized government has been forced to relocate to the country's east, where a former general has waged an offensive against Islamic militias, including Ansar al-Shariah, blamed for the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed that a U.S. citizen was among those killed in Tuesday's attack, but did not provide further details. Cliff Taylor, the CEO of a Virginia security company, Crucible LLC, identified the slain American as David Berry, a contractor with his company.
A French national and three citizens of a former Soviet republic also were killed, said Essam al-Naasa, a spokesman for a Tripoli security agency.
The Malta-owned Corinthia Hotel, among the most luxurious in Tripoli, is also where the United Nations support mission in Libya usually holds its meetings. The mission is currently hosting political talks with rival Libyan groups in Geneva.
The hotel had Italian, British and Turkish guests but was largely empty at the time of the attack, hotel staff members said. There was also a visiting American delegation.
The militia-backed government in Tripoli said the attack's target was Prime Minister Omar al-Hassi, who normally resides at the hotel but was not there at the time. Spokesman Amr Baiou told journalists al-Hassi was unharmed.
A security official in Tripoli, Omar al-Khadrawi, said initial investigations pointed to a group of former Gaddafi loyalists being behind the assault.
Reports about how the attack unfolded conflicted and it was not possible to reconcile the different accounts.
Hotel staffers initially said that five masked gunmen stormed the Corinthia and fired randomly at the staff in the lobby as guests fled out the hotel's back doors into the parking lot.
One staffer said a car bomb exploded in the parking lot after a protection force entered the lobby and opened fire on the gunmen. Two guards were immediately killed, said one staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared being targeted by militants.
Al-Naas said after a several-hour standoff, the attackers threw a grenade at the security forces on the hotel's 24th floor, killing themselves and a security guard. Ten people were wounded in the attack, including security guards and guests, he said.
"The operation is over," al-Naas said. He said an investigation was underway and the car used by the gunmen is believed to be the same one used in an assault on the Algerian Embassy 10 days ago that wounded three guards.
The U.N. Security Council condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" and urged all countries to help bring "the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice." In a statement approved by all 15 members, the council also urged all parties in Libya "to engage constructively" with U.N. envoy Bernardino Leon and resume "an inclusive political process aimed at addressing the political and security challenges" facing Libya.
The Corinthia previously came under attack in 2013 when gunmen abducted then-Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who was living there. He was released several hours later.In a further development, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has tweeted that the attack on the Corinthia Hotel will be debated in Parliament tomorrow and that he has informed the Opposition Leader on the latest developments.
Both Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition Leader Simon Busittil have tweeted on the subject.
In a statement, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring the ongoing situation at the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli.
The ministry noted that all the Maltese employees are safe and out of harm’s way.
The Malta Government again reiterates its travel advice issued in August 2014, against all forms of travel to Libya due to the prevailing situation.
Speaking after a meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the government has to see whether the attack on the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli has any connection with Malta.
“Intelligence is being gathered about the bomb that exploded outside of the Corinthia, at this point in time we do not have enough information at hand.
“No Maltese appear to be injured or in danger according to information I received prior to my meeting. We have first hand reports and not just from the media about the bomb that exploded outside of this Maltese investment, we have to see whether there was any connection with Malta or not, or whether it was something else.”
Dr Muscat said it would be irresponsible to reach any conclusions at this point until all the necessary information is in hand.
He said the Maltese security services are monitoring the situation assiduously.
The PM said one still has to establish who the terrorists represent and what their demands are.
The general situation in Libya was discussed during the meeting with the European Council President.
Dr Muscat said the EU cannot ignore the situation in Libya, as it can have affects on the EU as well.
President appeals for dialogue
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca also condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims, the Maltese workers and the hotel management.
She appealed to all Maltese to take heed of the travel warning issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs advising them not to travel to Libya. Mrs Coleiro Preca also appealed for dialogue and peace.
The Nationalist Party also issued a statement, condemning the cowardly terrorist attack on the Corinthia Bab Hotel in Tripoli, Libya and expressing its solidarity with the victims and with the Malta-based Corinthia Group.
While the party welcomes the news that all staff, including Maltese employees, have been evacuated safely, our thoughts are with the people on the ground after the devastating terrorist attack this morning the statement, signed by Roberta Metsola and Tonio Fenech, said.
The attack on Malta’s doorstep and on Malta’s business interests in Libya is of huge concern. It exposes the fragility of the situation in Libya and serves to reinforce our strong stand against terrorism.
Malta must stand firm in the face of these cowardly attacks and the Opposition is ready to back the Government to support action by the European Union and the international community to fight terrorism and dismantle terrorist networks.
The Nationalist Party urged the Maltese Government to use all its diplomatic means to ensure the safe return of those Maltese nationals desiring to return to Malta and that adequate protection is given by Libyan Authorities to Maltese interests in Libya.
In a statement, the EU's High Representative for Foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, said the attack at the Corinthia Hotel was another reprehensible act of terrorism which dealt a blow to efforts to bring peace and stability to Libya.
"The EU expresses solidarity with the victims and their families. The EU strongly supports the efforts of the ongoing UN led talks to bring a political solution based on respect and dialogue," she said.
"Such attacks should not be allowed to undermine the political process."
Jacob Borg reported PM's statement from Brussels