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By Libya Herald reporter.
Benghazi, 19 May 2015:
A member of the Libyan National Army (LNA) was killed and at least seven others . . .[restrict]injured early this morning in a suicide bomb attack at Guba, 28 east of Labrak airport. The suicide bomber was also killed. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility on Twitter and Facebook.
The bombing took place at Guba’s eastern Aldahr Al-Ahmar checkpoint at around 3am. It appears that the attackers hoped to get into the town itself and planned greater carnage. Two vehicles were involved. When challenged some 15 metres from the checkpoint, the driver of the first, a red Toyota Tundra pickup truck, blew himself up, killing one of the guards and wounding the others. The driver of the second vehicle drove off back in the direction of Derna, which is controlled by IS.
Unconfirmed reports that another vehicle managed to get in Guba are being investigated.
The dead guard has been named as Hamid Al-Shaari. He was initially taken to Guba hospital then transferred to the hospital in Beida but died of his wounds there. The wounded are also being treated in Beida Hospital
The LNA says the attack is a response by IS to the advances it has been making towards Derna, in particular around Ras Hilal, 50 kilometres west of the IS-run town. It claims that in an operation yesterday it killed four IS members and seized ammunition and weapons near Ras Hilal. One of its soliders was also wounded, it said.
IS is thought to have targeted Guba as the next town to seize. Today’s attack on its eastern checkpoint follows a number of attacks on the checkpoint 10 kilometres west of Guba, at Lamluda. The most recent was last Saturday. [/restrict]
