TRIPOLI: More than 100 tanks were seized from a militia loyal to LibyaÂ’s ousted leader Muammar Qaddafi as authorities hunted the perpetrators of a double car bombing, the interior ministry said on Thursday.| How many of them were operational? |
“More than 100 tanks and 26 missile launchers were seized” from the militia, Abdelmonem Al-Hur, spokesman for the interior ministry’s High Security Committee, told a news conference.
The car bombs killed two people and wounded four others in Tripoli in the dawn attacks which took place as Muslims prepared to attend prayers on the first day of the Eid Al-Fitr holidays.
The spokesman said that one person was killed and eight others were wounded as security forces arrested the militiaÂ’s leader, Khaled Ibrahim Krid, in an operation on Wednesday. Thirteen people were also arrested in the operation, while three others escaped.
The interior ministry had on Wednesday reported clashes between Tarhuna members of the security services and suspects allegedly involved in Sunday’s blasts. The pro-Qaddafi militia known as Katibat Al-Awfiya (Brigade of the Faithful) was known internally as the “Brigade of Martyr Muammar Qaddafi,” who was killed last October, according to Hor.
“We believed the Katibat defended Libya and the revolution, but it turned out to be contrary,” he said.
Hor acknowledged that LibyaÂ’s security forces had been infiltrated by supporters of the former regime and said a committee has been formed to investigate.