Bombings bearing 'hallmarks of Islamic militants' kill 45 in Libya
A series of suicide bombings in east Libya killed at least 45 people on Friday, a Libyan army spokesman told The Associated Press.
Mohammed Hegazi told AP that the attack "bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants," who have fought Libya's army for months. AP notes that the car bomb attack at a gas station in Qubba was only 19 miles away from Darna, one of ISIS' strongholds in Libya.
Hegazi told AP that in addition to those dead, "scores" of people were wounded in the attack. The gas station attacked is apparently near Qubba's security headquarters.
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Update, Feb. 20: ISIS' Libya offshoot has claimed responsibility for the attack, The Associated Press reports. The group said the attacks were "retaliation" for the killing of Muslims in Darna.
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.