By Libya Herald staff.
Tunis, 30 September 2017:
Three men, said to be members of the Mashashia tribe, are reported to have been arrested in Mizdah, accused of responsibility for the deaths yesterday of two members of the Warfala tribe’s social council and two others from Bani Walid who were with them.
Sheikh Abdullah Antat, the head of the Warfala social council’s reconciliation committee, and Sheikh Khamis Asbaga Al-Mansali, together with Adel Ben Jadiriya and driver Masoud Al-Mansali were killed when their car overturned after it was shot at and chased along the road near Mizdah.
The three, one of whom has been named as Mizdah resident ‘Abd al-Majid Makari, were reported to have been arrested following claims from eyewitnesses that they had fired at the two sheikh’s vehicle and chased it. The witnesses said that after it overturned the assailants then got out and fired more shots and refused to allow any passing vehicles to stop and give help.
It is suggested in Mizdah that the reason for the attack was revenge. The Warfala team had been involved in the mediation efforts between the Mashashia and Qantrar tribes. It is thought that the attackers accused it of taking the side of the Qantrar in earlier sessions.
The killing of the mediators has been denounced by numerous municipal and elders’ councils across Libya – the latest being that of Jufra – as well as by Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj. He has ordered an investigation.
