Bangladeshi among 44 Libya migrant centre airstrike victims

Satellite imagery of the aftermath of the airstrike that hit a migrant centre in the Tajoura suburb of Tripoli, Libya. Photo: Reuters
Satellite imagery of the aftermath of the airstrike that hit a migrant centre in the Tajoura suburb of Tripoli, Libya. Photo: Reuters

A Bangladesh national was killed in an airstrike that hit a detention centre for migrants near the Libyan capital of Tripoli and left at least 44 people dead two days ago early Wednesday, reports news agency UNB.

ASM Ashraful Islam, labour counsellor of Bangladesh embassy in Libya, identified the Bangladeshi as Shahjalal hailing from Mostafapur of Madaripur district.

"The body will be sent to Bangladesh as soon as possible after necessary formalities," he told UNB over phone.

The airstrike claimed the lives of at least 44 people and wounded dozens of others, reports AP.

Migrants stand and walk outside at a detention centre used by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital Tripoli`s southern suburb of Tajoura on 3 July 2019, following an air strike on a nearby building that left dozens killed the previous night. Photo: AFP
Migrants stand and walk outside at a detention centre used by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital Tripoli`s southern suburb of Tajoura on 3 July 2019, following an air strike on a nearby building that left dozens killed the previous night. Photo: AFP

The Tripoli-based government blamed the attack on forces associated with Gen. Khalifa Hifter, whose Libyan National Army has been waging an offensive against rival militias in the capital of the war-torn North African country since April, according to an AP report.

At the United Nations, the Security Council held a closed emergency session on the airstrike in Tripoli's Tajoura neighbourhood, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an independent investigation.