Tripoli – A car bomber blew himself up overnight in a failed attack near a security checkpoint outside the Libyan oil port of Es Sider, a security source and a witness said on Tuesday.
Security officials did not say who they thought was behind the attempted attack, which took place a few km from the oil port and caused no material damage.
Images shared with Reuters showed a blue vehicle near a sand barrier with the front doors blown open, and body parts apparently belonging to the bomber lying on the ground nearby.
They also showed what looked like rocket casings, which the security source said had been found inside the vehicle.
Es Sider, which lies about 180 km east of Sirte and some 320 km (200 miles) southwest of Benghazi, opened in 2016 after forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar took control of the terminal and three other ports.
It was attacked early 2016 by Islamic State militants before they were ousted from Sirte, and has since been the scene of clashes between Haftar’s LNA and opponents who had previously been battling him in Benghazi.