By Libya Herald reporters.
Tunis, 4 October 2017:
UNSMIL has condemned as despicable the Misrata courthouse suicide storming this morning as the mayor put the city on the highest state of alert.
“Indiscriminate attacks against civilians,” it said, “including employees of the judicial institutions, are violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and cannot be justified. Those behind today’s bombing and other such despicable acts must face justice”.
UNSMIL chief Ghassan Salamé sent his condolences to the families of those killed and wished a swift recovery to those who have been injured.
Misrata’s mayor Mohamed Eshtewi has declared the highest security alert in the city. He said that the vehicle used by the attackers, an Hyundai Santa Fe had been found and it contained weapons and ammunition.
He also announced measures involving foreigners and internally displaced people in the city but did not spell out what they involved. He asked that there should be no interference.
Eshtewi also denied reports that there had been members of the so-called Islamic State on trial in the courthouse at the time of the attack. The court was conducting its normal business, he said.