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By Ayman Amzein.
Benghazi, 8 August 2013:
The first day of Eid Al-Fitr saw lawlessness and violence continue unabated in Benghazi this morning . . .[restrict]with an RPG attack on shops in the city’s Airport Road.
Local residents tried to seize the attacker but he managed to escape. Three land mines, said to be linked to a mobile phone, were also left nearby, one of which exploded, causing further damage.
No one was injured in the attack. Being Eid, all the shops (which included Benghazi’s branch of Marks & Spencer) were closed. But buildings and stock were seriously affected.
The other two mines were later diffused by explosives experts.
There appears to be no apparent reason for the attack, which has left shopkeepers and locals astounded.
In an earlier incident last night, three men in a BMW car which was still carrying Dutch registration plates attacked a checkpoint at the city’s Tripoli Bridge, reportedly throwing a grenade. One person wassaid to have had to have his hand amputated as a result.
Security forces fired at them and chased the vehicle which then crashed. Two of the assailants escaped on foot while a third, believed to have been the driver and who had been wounded, was captured. He was taken to hospital for treatment where he is under armed guard.
There are unconfirmed reports that the two have also now been caught.
With input from Maha Ellawati.
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