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Tripoli, 30 August:
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Benghazi’s Security Directorate was attacked by an armed group at dawn on Monday, . . .[restrict]according to a source at the Directorate.
No casualties or damage were sustained, according to the source CID personnel dealt with the attack “in a professional manner”. Two of the assailants were detained, along with one of their vehicles.
The identity and motives of the large group of armed men remain unclear, although it is believed to have been an attempt to free prisoners. It is thought that the group may have acted in reaction to an operation by the department that resulted in the arrest of many drug dealers, and dealers of counterfeit items.
The Security Directorate has received reports that the same group may be planning a renewed attack.
Signs of unrest have become widespread in the eastern city, where fourteen senior military officers have been assassinated this year, and a delegation from the Iranian Red Crescent is still being held by extremists.
In late July bombs containing at least 40 kilos of explosives were found behind the CID building, they were defused by specialists from the Department of Explosives, but it was thought that the devices were powerful enough to cause extensive damage not only to the CID building, but also to the surrounding area. [/restrict]
