LIBYA: Unexploded NATO bomb, discovered in the grounds of Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, is detonated by a munitions disposal team

Record ID: 359430

  • Title: LIBYA: Unexploded NATO bomb, discovered in the grounds of Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, is detonated by a munitions disposal team
  • Date: 19th November 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 18, 2011) (REUTERS) SECURITY FORCE IN STREET WITH AUDIO FROM LOUDSPEAKER, CALLING FOR RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE AREA SOLDIER IN CAR SAYING INTO MICROPHONE (Arabic): "THE BOMB THAT IS LOCATED IN THE BASE WILL EXPLODE IN ONE HOUR FROM NOW"/CAR DRIVING AWAY SOLDIERS GUARDING AREA POLICE CAR DRIVING ALONG STREET MAN IN CAR SPEAKING INTO LOUDSPEAKER AN
  • Embargoed: 4th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA7O2HY1REULE3TJ5WNRSUF3Z51
  • Story Text: Libyan munitions disposal experts on Friday (November 18) detonated a large unexploded bomb, dropped by NATO forces on Muammar Gaddafi's base in Tripoli, which they said was a threat to the area.
    Before the detonation, security forces drove through the neighbourhoods surrounding Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound and called on all residents to leave and seek shelter elsewhere.
    The bomb, which was detonated at 7:50 am Libyan time (5:50 GMT), was dropped on a hanger in the base before Tripoli fell to the forces of the National Transitional Council in August..
    "We found this bomb -- which weighs about 450 pounds -- and it was really a direct threat to the people and to the city itself," said Abdelmunim Aleywan, from Libya's Mine Action Centre.
    'It might be a NATO bomb, but we still thank the American embassy and also the UK embassy, because they really gave their full assistance to us and we really work as a team," he added.
    NATO ended its Libyan mission on October 31, seven months after launching air and sea operations that helped bring about the overthrow and death of Gaddafi.
    Some 26,000 sorties, including 9,600 strike missions, destroyed about 5,900 military targets since they started the mission on March 31.
    These included Libya's air defences and more than 1,000 tanks, vehicles and guns, as well as Gaddafi's command and control networks.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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