A senior Libyan police chief has survived a car bomb explosion meant to kill the officer in the eastern coastal city of Benghazi.

"The car of Colonel Mohammed bin Halim, chief of police operations in Benghazi, exploded outside his home. No one was hurt," an unnamed security official told AFP.

The incident took place Saturday when the bomb exploded after the Libyan officer remotely switched on the car.

"Preliminary inquiries show that a home-made bomb was thrown at the vehicle by unidentified assailants," the unnamed security official added.

No group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast is the latest in a series of violent attacks in the east of the country. The officials say the targets are mainly from former security officials who worked for Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.


In a similar incident last month a former Libyan security officer, who served under Gaddafi’s regime, was killed in a car bomb explosion in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Libya’s National Assembly, which recently assumed control from the National Transitional Council (NTC), has made improving security a priority.

However, violence remains a challenge for the government, with several attacks taking place in the country in recent months.
Press TV