UK Media Confirms Attack on British Diplomatic Convoy in Tripoli
According to reports published this week, the incident occurred while the convoy was returning from Mitiga International Airport in the Libyan capital.
In the Gurji area, a white Toyota Land Cruiser approached at high speed, rammed into one of the convoy vehicles, and then opened fire. Two embassy cars were damaged, but all personnel escaped unharmed and reached a secure location.
The British Embassy in Tripoli, while confirming the attack, downplayed suggestions that it was a targeted assassination or kidnapping attempt. Nonetheless, it condemned the incident as a serious violation of diplomatic security.
The embassy has formally requested a full explanation from Libyan authorities and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.
The revelation comes amid a deteriorating security situation in Tripoli, where armed groups operate with relative impunity and the central government struggles to exert control. In recent months, embassies and international agencies have expressed increasing concern about the risk posed by unchecked militias and frequent violent incidents.
This latest attack, although not previously disclosed, fits into a broader pattern of rising insecurity that is now threatening diplomatic engagement and foreign cooperation in Libya. Despite some efforts by the Government of National Unity to stabilize the capital, the presence of competing armed factions continues to challenge any meaningful progress. Tags: Armed AttackBritishConvoylibyatripoli
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Review
4 hours ago
- Libya Review
Libya Concludes Workshop on Human Trafficking
The Libyan Center for Criminal Research and Training has concluded a specialized workshop on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, held in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The workshop was part of the National Initiative of the Public Prosecution Authority aimed at tackling transnational crimes, and was hosted at the Center's headquarters in Tripoli. Twenty prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General participated in the training, alongside international experts from partner organizations. Discussions focused on irregular migration, the complexities of migrant smuggling networks, and human trafficking crimes — all analyzed from both national and international legal perspectives. Strengthening Prosecution and International Cooperation The sessions explored ways to enhance the role of the Public Prosecution Authority in prevention and protection, as well as developing mechanisms for international cooperation to prosecute offenders, dismantle smuggling networks, and ensure justice without impunity. The initiative also reaffirmed Libya's commitment to human rights and the rule of law, highlighting the importance of a unified national approach in line with global efforts to combat cross-border crimes. This workshop is part of ongoing efforts to build the legal and institutional capacity of Libyan authorities in dealing with complex crimes and ensuring victims are protected while perpetrators are held accountable. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations. Libya's economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya's economy. The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions. The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition. Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges. Tags: human traffickingIOMlibyaun
Libya Review
5 hours ago
- Libya Review
French Judicial School Trains Libyan Prosecutors on War Crimes
A group of Libyan prosecutors have taken part in a specialized international training course at the French National School for the Judiciary (École Nationale de la Magistrature), according to a statement issued Thursday by Libya's Office of the Attorney General. The delegation, sent by the Libyan Center for Criminal Research and Training, joined participants from several other countries in a program focused on international criminal law, including jurisdictional frameworks, trial management in international courts, and the challenges posed by the interaction between international criminal and humanitarian law. The training addressed the evolving legal landscape in international criminal justice and its impact on prosecutorial cooperation and accountability, with a focus on complementarity and combating impunity. The participation comes as part of the Center's strategy to build prosecutorial capacity in international cooperation and transnational crime, by learning from comparative legal systems and developing tools for managing cross-border criminal issues — from investigation to trial. The program also aims to enhance the Public Prosecution Authority's ability to respond effectively to cases involving overlapping jurisdiction between national and international courts. Boosting International Legal Collaboration The training is part of a broader initiative to integrate international expertise into Libya's prosecutorial framework. It follows a 2025 technical cooperation agreement signed in Tripoli between the Center and the French organization 'Expertise France,' during the launch of the inaugural Public Prosecution International Book Fair. Under this agreement, the French judicial school has allocated annual seats to Libyan prosecutors in its global training agenda. The cooperation also involves bringing international legal experts to Libya to deliver advanced courses at the Center's headquarters. This ongoing collaboration reflects Libya's commitment to strengthening its legal institutions, improving international coordination, and effectively combating organized crime and impunity.
Libya Review
15 hours ago
- Libya Review
France & UK Call on Libya to Investigate Attacks on Diplomatic Staff
Foreign diplomatic missions in Libya have found themselves increasingly exposed to the country's volatile security environment, as recent armed clashes in Tripoli brought their operations directly into the line of fire. Both the French Embassy and a British diplomatic convoy came under attack in separate incidents amid ongoing power struggles between rival security groups aligned with or opposed to the interim Libyan government. According to French media, the French Embassy in Tripoli was hit four times by mortar fire on May 14, during some of the fiercest clashes the city has seen this year. The shelling, which occurred while embassy personnel were on site, caused structural damage and struck mere centimeters from staff areas, as confirmed by senior diplomatic officials. The ambassador's residence was also targeted, with one shell damaging its main gate. Despite the attack, French diplomatic operations continue, shielded by elite security personnel from the GIGN. However, officials acknowledge that the risks remain high, and contingency evacuation plans via air, land, or sea are in place. Since 2011, the French mission has evacuated Libya on three separate occasions due to instability. BFMTV, which documented embassy security operations on the ground, reported growing concern within French diplomatic circles about the vulnerability of foreign missions in Tripoli, especially as armed groups remain highly active and loosely regulated. While French officials did not conclusively state that the embassy was intentionally targeted, the nature of the attack raises significant questions about motive and the safety of diplomatic personnel. In a separate incident in June, a British diplomatic convoy was ambushed while returning from Mitiga Airport. The attack occurred in the Qargour district, where a group in a white Toyota Land Cruiser deliberately struck the convoy and opened fire. Although two vehicles were damaged, all British staff escaped unharmed. The embassy later ruled out an attempted kidnapping but denounced the incident as a severe threat to diplomatic security. The United Kingdom has demanded an official explanation from Libyan authorities and called for a full investigation. The attack comes amid wider concerns about the proliferation of armed groups in Tripoli and the deteriorating ability of the state to control them or protect international missions. These events coincide with the United States raising its travel advisory for Libya to Level 4, the highest category, citing heightened risks from terrorism, armed conflict, crime, and the possibility of sudden outbreaks of violence. The advisory warns of threats including kidnappings for ransom or political leverage, and underscores the danger of unexploded ordnance and limited emergency support. Tags: ClashesEmbassyfrancelibyatripoliUK
