By Libya Herald reporters.
Benghazi/Tripoli, 14 July 2016:
Reports of an attempt to assassinate Mahdi Al-Barghathi, the defence minister in the Government of National Accord (GNA), while in Benghazi last night appear to be confirmed by the Presidency Council which has condemned the incident, calling for it to be investigated. However, 204 Brigade, which he headed before his appointment and which he was visiting yesterday, suggests on its Facebook page that he was not the intended target of the attack.
There is also confusion over the actual incident.
Earlier, 204 Brigade was quoted by the Beida-based office of the Libyan news agency LANA saying that Barghathi had been outside Benghazi when the supposed attack against him took place. However, the brigade’s Facebook page has since said that he had been at meeting in the city’s Beloun area and his vehicle was then caught up in an explosion at the Arab University Roundabout. However, it also quotes him saying that he did not believe he was the target.
It also says that the explosion was caused by a car bomb and that no one was hurt.
It appears to be the same explosion in which, in fact, Benghazi Medical Centre reports three people – a women and two children – were injured. Also, although that incident was initially said to have been caused by a car bomb, it is since reported to have been a missile attack.
