Libyan interior minister escapes shooting attack on motorcade in Tripoli

Fathi Bashagha survives suspected assassination attempt after meeting at the National Oil Corporation

26 December 2019, Tunisia, Tunis: Fathi Bashagha, Interior Minister of the Tripoli-based UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) attends a press conference during a visit to Tunisia. Turkey will deploy troops to Libya upon GNA's invitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, a step set to fuel a long-running feud in Libya. On the other hand, Bashagha said that the GNA would officially ask Turkey for military support, arising from its right to protect its legitimacy. Photo: Khaled Nasraoui/dpa (Photo by Khaled Nasraoui/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Gunmen opened fire on the motorcade of the Libyan Government of National Accord's Interior Minister, Fathi Bashagha, in the capital Tripoli on Sunday, but he escaped unharmed, a source said.

The assailants fired on Mr Bashagha's convoy as he drove through western Tripoli after visiting the National Oil Corporation and the headquarters of the ministry's law enforcement force, the source said.

Mr Bashagha tweeted about his meeting with the corporation's chairman before the assassination attempt.

"A fruitful meeting with Mustafa Sanalla, NOC chairman, where we discussed working jointly to secure the oil sector and to strengthen its independence to ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all Libyans," he said.