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Bombing at Swedish post in Libya

October 11, 2013

A bomb has exploded near the Swedish consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Initial reports indicated that the building sustained heavy damages, but that no one had been hurt in the blast.

https://p.dw.com/p/19xzQ
Security officials inspect damage in the Swedish consulate after a car bomb exploded at its entrance, in Benghazi October 11, 2013. A car bomb exploded outside the Swedish consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Friday, damaging the building's front and nearby houses, but no casualties were immediately reported, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori (LIBYA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Image: Reuters

Security officials confirmed a car bomb had been detonated near the Swedish consulate on Friday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

No one was injured in the attack, according to initial reports. However, the explosion left the building heavily damaged.

Libyan officials have struggled to maintain peace in the country since the 2011 civil war.

The bombing came a day after gunmen released Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan from captivity. The abduction appeared to be in retaliation for the Libyan government's alleged involvement in the US capture of a suspected al-Qaeda militant over the weekend.

The attack also came in the wake of an assault on Russia's embassy in Tripoli by an armed group less than two weeks ago.

On September 11, militants linked to al-Qaeda affiliates attacked the US consulate in Benghazi, killing the US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

kms/ph (AP, AFP, Reuters)