Libya: Bomb explosion destroys Tripoli mosque

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – A bomb exploded early on Thursday near the al-Qods mosque, located in the heart of the city centre of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, causing huge damage inside the building, witnesses say.

PANA reported that Civil society activists later posted photos on facebook showing the damage caused by the explosion that happened as the mosque was empty.

The attack targeted graves in a place near the chapel but the explosion was so heavy that it destroyed a large part of the mosque, PANA reported, quoting eye witnesses.

Located in the zone of Abou Hreida, the al-Qods mosque is one of the most important religious monuments in the Libyan capital with exceptional and rich architecture.

Several attempts to take control of the mosque have been made in the past by the radical Islamists, said the witnesses, who added that the leaders of the mosque had always rebuffed the attempt.

Tripoli, like the other Libyan cities, has been over the past three years the theater of similar operations with the extremists groups succeeding in destroying the al-Chaab mosque and a certain number of sanctuaries in Tajoura, Chatt al-Henchir and Maizran and in several other places of the country.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/MSA/VAO 23April2015