By Ashraf Abdul-Wahab and Taher Zaroog.
Tripoli/Misrata, 27 September 2013:
Angry residents turned out en masse in Misrata to the funeral of a . . .[restrict]security official killed last night in a shootout following a standoff between hand-break stunt drivers and security forces in the city’s Tripoli Street.
The man, named as Abdurrauf Al-Sahli, was shot in the head and died early this morning in hospital. Six other members of the Battalion No. 154, charged with Misrata’s security, were injured and also had to be hospitalised.
The incident happened late last night after residents had complained about the noisy antics of motorised tearaways burning rubber on the city’s Tripoli Street with hand-break turns. Members of the battalion were sent to put an end to the behaviour of the thrill seeker but they then came under fire, although it is still not clear exactly who was responsible.
Some of the car drivers are thought to have been involved but it is reported that a group of young drugs dealers and gang members also took part.
The crowds at the funeral today demanded law and order be fully imposed.
The authorities this morning gave the families of those responsible until 5pm to surrender them.
The deadline passed without anyone handing themselves in.
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