Gunmen Attack Libya Hotel

Militants have attacked a hotel used by foreigners in Libya's capital, killing at least four people and injuring 12 others, officials say.

Several gunmen stormed the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli and opened fire in the reception area. A car bomb also exploded outside the hotel.

Unconfirmed reports say some of the assailants have blown themselves up and that foreigners are among the dead.
The security forces say the stand-off has now been brought to an end.

Reports conflict as to whether any foreigners were killed and over the total number of attackers.


A Twitter account linked to Islamic State said the militant group had carried out the attack.

Correspondents say it is difficult to assess whether IS has a presence in Libya.

Extremists have been blamed for a string of bombings over the last month.

Meanwhile, a hotel security source told the BBC that the hotel had received a threat "a few days ago" warning managers "to empty the building".

'Revenge attack'

The Corinthia Hotel is used by foreign diplomats and government officials. The UN Support Mission in Libya (Unsmil) has hosted several workshops at the hotel.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni condemned the attack and pledged that those responsible for it would be brought to justice.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign affairs chief, also condemned the attack which took place as a second round of peace talks between Libya's warring factions ended in Geneva in what the UN described as a "positive atmosphere".

The Twitter account linked to IS said the group had carried out the attack in revenge for the death of Abu Anas al-Liby, a Libyan jihadist who was suspected of involvement in the bombings of two US embassies in East Africa in 1998.

Libya died in a US hospital on 2 January, days before he was due to stand trial.