Electoral commission attack destabilizes shaky situation in Libya
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the May 2 attack on Libya’s High National Election Commission headquarters in Tripoli, raising more security concerns for the upcoming elections.
The May 2 attack on the High National Election Commission (HNEC) in the Libyan capital came at a critical time, as the country prepares for the presidential and parliamentary elections later this year. In the early hours of the morning, two suicide bombers armed with explosive belts entered the HNEC’s headquarters in Tripoli after killing two armed guards.
At least 14 were killed in the attack, including both police officers responsible for securing the site and HNEC employees, and as many as 50 others were injured. Security around the building in the rundown Ghout al-Shaal district west of central Tripoli is not unusually tight, as the building was accessible to the public after going through standard procedures of personal checks and scanning of any carried items.
