Unidentified gunmen have killed a retired police colonel and two sons of other retired high-ranking security officials in Libya, according to the country’s health officials.


The officials said Abdel Fatah Al Barasi died on Saturday after being shot in the head the previous day in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The gunmen also shot dead Salah Abd Al Razak and Zakaria Abdullah Al Darsi, both sons of colonels, in Benghazi on Friday.

Libya has been plagued by assassinations and abductions of political and security officials blamed on militias that emerged after the 2011 revolution.

Libyans rose up against former dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s four-decade rule in February 2011 and deposed him in August 2011. He was slain on October 20 of the same year.

Since 2011, Benghazi has been the scene of numerous attacks and assassinations amidst increasing power struggle among several militias who fought against Gaddafi during the uprising.

The former rebels refuse to lay down their arms, despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.

Over the past few months, Tripoli and its suburbs have been hit by violent clashes between rival militias.

In an interview with Press TV last year in October, political commentator Johnny Miller said that Libya is on the verge of becoming a failed state.

Libya “really is close to being a failed state. I mean you have the situation where the government is very, very weak. You have the streets ruled by militias, affiliated with the government, but also acting unilaterally by themselves,” he said.