The General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons reported yesterday that it has received reports from families of missing persons, alleging the possible presence of mass graves inside Abusleem Zoo.
The Zoo, located in Abusleem, was under the control of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) headed previously by Abdelghani ‘‘Ghnewa’’ Al-Kikly.
Ghnewa was killed in contested circumstances Monday 12 May during or after a meeting with military commanders aligned to the Tripoli based Libyan government headed by Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba. The contested circumstances of Ghnewa’s death led to intense militia clashes in Tripoli.
The death of Ghnewa and the disintegration of his SSA militia has meant that there is now open access to the Zoo, previously closed off by his forces.
Calls on missing persons families to submit reports to prosecution offices
Based on these reports, the Authority calls on the families of missing persons to submit their reports to the relevant prosecution offices and refer them to the Authority. This will enable the Authority to begin its work after being assigned by the Public Prosecution, starting next week, to conduct field investigations and surveys at the site, using specialized teams and the necessary scanning equipment.
Possible presence of mass graves
Initial reports from the families of the victims indicate serious indications of the possible presence of mass graves, which necessitates handling the matter with the utmost caution and legal and humanitarian responsibility.
In this context, the Authority called on all families of missing persons who have not yet contacted it to submit their relevant information and reports through official channels. This will support search and investigation efforts and enable the Authority to expand its scope and reach the largest possible number of cases.
The Authority affirmed its full commitment to the right of victims and their families to know the fate of their children and said it will inform the public of the results of its investigations once the legal and technical procedures are completed.
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