Around 50 people are now known to have died in three suicide car bombings in Libya. Fighters loyal to the group calling itself Islamic State (ISIL)
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Around 50 people are now known to have died in three suicide car bombings in Libya.
Fighters loyal to the group calling itself Islamic State (ISIL) have claimed responsibility for Friday’s attacks in the town of Qubbah.
Euronews spoke to Arab world analyst Mustapha Tossa about the extremists linked to ISIL building a presence in Libya.
“Those attacks represent ISIL’s military spread to Libya, a country transformed into a new place of conflict which hits right into the centre of the Maghreb and which may extend into Europe. Libya is turning and this will certainly have consequences in the south-west of Europe. Of course, in Maghreb too, as I said.”
Friday’s car bombings were in apparent retaliation for airstrikes by the Egyptian air force on Monday which hit targets in eastern Libya.
The recent murder of Egyptian Coptic Christians has raised fears that ISIL fighters could use Libya as a stepping stone to Europe.