A nine-year-old Libyan girl was killed by a stray bullet during an apparent assassination attempt targeting a police officer in the coastal city of Sorman, according to a statement released by her family.
The Al-Saadaoui family said armed men opened fire on one of their relatives, police officer Jihad Ezzedine Al-Mishri Al-Saadaoui, leaving him seriously wounded and causing the death of the child, identified as Areen Shawqi Al-Dabbar Al-Saadaoui. The girl was reportedly at the scene by coincidence when the shooting took place.
Family members stated that three assailants fired multiple rounds at the officer in what they described as a deliberate attempt to assassinate him. The officer was hit by five bullets and was rushed to intensive care at a local hospital, where his condition was described as critical.
In their statement, the family expressed deep grief and outrage over the killing of the child, stressing that she had no connection to the attack and was an innocent bystander. They called on security authorities to urgently identify and arrest those responsible, and to hold accountable any officials found to have failed in providing adequate security.
The family also warned that the spread of armed violence continues to pose a direct threat to civilians, particularly children, in several Libyan cities. They urged authorities to take firm measures to curb the use of weapons in public areas and prevent similar incidents.
A family source previously told Al-Wasat newspaper that the wounded officer remained under close medical supervision, while no official statement had been issued by security bodies at the time of writing.
The incident has sparked renewed public concern over lawlessness and targeted attacks in western Libya. Local residents in Sorman said such incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger policing, effective investigations, and real accountability to protect civilians and restore public confidence in state institutions.
