LIBYA-SECURITY/SIRTE Islamic State seizes power plant near Libyan city of Sirte

Record ID: 150586

  • Title: LIBYA-SECURITY/SIRTE Islamic State seizes power plant near Libyan city of Sirte
  • Date: 9th June 2015
  • Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (RECENT - MAY 24, 2015) (REUTERS) VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF POWER PLANT VARIOUS OF STEAM EMITTING FROM POWER PLANT VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT OF POWER PLANT
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FFCSBTX9PWGR41FGNAKTPK6U
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT OF SOME OF THIS VIDEO, WHICH HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM A SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE
    Islamic State said on Tuesday (June 9) it has seized a power plant west of the Libyan city of Sirte which supplies central and western parts of the country with electricity.
    "The plant ... was taken," Islamic State said in a message on social media, adding that the capture of the plant meant that the militants had driven their enemies out of the entire city.
    The group also uploaded pictures to twitter purporting to show militants running towards the power plant while brandishing weapons.
    Reuters is unable to independently verify the content of the images, which were obtained from a social media website.
    Forces loyal to the self-declared government that controls the capital Tripoli pulled out of the plant after Islamic State attacked it on Tuesday morning. Three soldiers were killed in the attack, a military source said.
    Islamic State has exploited the general turmoil and security vacuum in Libya, where two governments are vying for power four years after the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi, to build up a presence in several cities.
    The militants earlier this year captured most of Sirte, Gaddafi's home town, seizing the airport and driving a force loyal to the Tripoli government out to the city suburbs.
    Since the start of the year militants in Libya loyal to Islamic State have claimed responsibility for killing dozens of Egyptian and Ethiopian Christians, as well attacks on Tripoli's luxury Corinthia hotel, embassies and oilfields.
    Libya's internationally recognised government has been working out of the east of the country since losing control of Tripoli and western Libya in August.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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