Libya : The killers of Benghazi

Double car bomb kills 27 at Benghazi mosque

Religious devotees were leaving evening prayers last night when the explosions hit Bait Radwan mosque in the district of Salmani.  Reports confirmed that the mosque was frequented by members of the east Libyan security forces who declared victory over Islamist militias in Benghazi last year.

Not unexpectedly, among the casualties were military personnel.  The death toll may rise further, a local hospital told Agence France-Presse.

No group has yet come forward to claim responsibility for the bombing.

Considering that Islamic State had all but been removed from Libya’s main cities, Benghazi was enjoying a period of relative calm.  However, there were several bombings early last year targeting members of the Libyan National Army, a force led from the east by the commander Khalifa Haftar.

The eastern government, which is aligned to the Libyan National Army, declared three days of mourning.  The United Nations condemned the attack as a possible war crime.