Tripoli, 25 April 2013:
A French judge at the head of a team of ten forensic experts flew in to Tripoli today to assist Libyan investigators probing Tuesday’s bomb blast at the French embassy.
The French party, who are expected to stay three days, will be making a detailed search of the seriously-damaged embassy and surrounding streets and houses, looking for evidence that could help identify the attackers. The team includes specially trained sniffer dogs.
Diplomatic sources said today that first estimates suggested that around 100 kilos of explosives were detonated in the white Audi in front of the embassy building.
The French gendarme who was seriously injured in the blast, was today flown to France after emergency surgery at Tripoli Central Hospital to deal with a triple fracture of the skull. The policeman, whose first name is understood to be “Nicolas,” also suffered a back wound, which resulted in a serious loss of blood. It is reported that his life is not in danger.
There has been no confirmation of the condition of the 18 year-old student living in a house opposite the embassy, who sustained a spinal injury when hit by debris. However, one report from Tunis, where she was flown on Tuesday morning, suggests that there are concerns that she may be confined permanently to a wheelchair. [/restrict]
