Likely the work of the Islamic State. “The U.N. special envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, denounced the attack and urged Libyans to ‘put their differences aside and unite to confront the scourge of terrorism.'” What is the purpose of issuing such asinine statements? Does Martin Kobler think a single Libyan jihadist is going to heed his words, buy a pair of pajamas, and start singing “Kumbaya”?
“Libya Truck Bombing Kills at Least 60 Policemen, Wounds 200,” by Essam Mohamed, Associated Press, January 7, 2016:
A massive truck bomb exploded near a police base in the western Libyan town of Zliten on Thursday, killing at least 60 policemen and wounding around 200 others, officials said.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but a local Islamic State affiliate has been trying to gain a foothold in Zliten, spreading westward from its central stronghold in the city of Sirte along the North African country’s coast.
The U.N. special envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, denounced the attack and urged Libyans to “put their differences aside and unite to confront the scourge of terrorism.” The bombing was yet another reminder for Libyans that “urgent progress is required” toward empowering a unity government and rebuilding state bodies, Kobler said in a statement.
Hours after the blast, rescue crews at the scene had only managed to extract 60 bodies out of the wreckage, said a hospital spokesman, Moamar Kaddi. Libyan officials said they believed there might be dozens more dead.
The police base, where about 400 recruits were training, was used by Libya’s border police, a Zliten security official said. Border police foiled numerous human smuggling attempts off the coast of Zliten last year. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Smugglers operating in Libya are notorious for responding with violence to any attempt to disrupt their lucrative operations, but there have been no reported incidents in which they used car bombs, suggesting that Islamic militant are more likely to have been behind Thursday’s attack. Also, it was not immediately clear whether the attack was a suicide bombing, a hallmark method of Islamic militants….