By Sami Zaptia.
London, 22 June 2016:
Usama Badi, the official spokesperson for Misrata Council has claimed that the explosion in Garabulli that led to dozens of deaths was caused by a container full of fireworks. This contradicts reports that the deaths and injuries were caused by an explosion of stored ammunition.
Badi said that the incident had started on Monday between locals and a member of the “Coastal Road Protection Forces”, which, he says, were sanctioned by the “Chiefs of Staff of the Libyan Army”.
This then developed further leading to the ‘’burning of a shop belonging to a resident of the locality’’, he stated. The incident developed further on Tuesday, he said, as locals reacted to the shop burning by attacking the Garabulli military police checkpoint and some Coastal Road Protection Forces sites leading to injuries and deaths on both sides.
The Coastal Road Protection Forces then withdrew from their positions which the attackers then entered, he claimed, which then led to the huge explosion of the fireworks hoard, he said.
Immediately, he said various parties intervened to calm the situation, a ceasefire, withdrawal of forces, the opening of the coastal road and the release of those held by both sides.
He reported that the situation was now under control.
