Five dead in suspected IS attack in central Libya

At least five people were killed Monday and 10 others were kidnapped in an attack by suspected Islamic State group jihadists on a town in central Libya, local and military sources say.

Three civilians were among the dead, while a soldier was wounded and 10 people were “missing, probably kidnapped,” says General Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army.

The raid targeted the desert town of Al-Fuqaha in Jufra district, which has for over a year been held by forces allied to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who leads the self-styled LNA.

LNA forces responded to the attack but the IS fighters fled south, killing a five victim and injuring another at a security checkpoint, Mesmari says.

Earlier, municipal council member Abdellatif Jalala told AFP that three civilians and a policeman had been killed in the dawn attack, more than 800 kilometers (490 miles) south of the capital Tripoli.

He says the assailants kidnapped at least eight others before fleeing into the Haruj mountains further south.

Jufra lawmaker Ismail al-Sharif says IS fighters attacked the city with 25 vehicles, beheaded five civilians and torched local government and security offices.

The attackers set fire to police posts and public buildings in Al-Fuqaha, he added.

Both Sharif and Jalala say the raid was likely retaliation for arrests earlier this month of alleged IS members in the area.

— AFP