On Wednesday, the Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams voiced her deep regret over the deaths of three people, and the injury of four others in an ammunition warehouse explosion at the Tripoli Naval Academy.
“I offer my sincere condolences to the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the families of the deceased people, in addition to wishing the injured a speedy recovery,” Williams tweeted.
“It remains unclear what caused the overnight blaze at the academy in Janzour,” said Masoud Abdel-Samad, the Spokesman of the Libyan navy.
Abdel-Samad confirmed in a statement that the Commander of the academy, General-Brigadier Ahmed Ayoub, Commander of the Naval College, General-Brigadier Salem Abu Salah, and a third individual identified as Mohamed Khalifa, were killed in the incident.
A fire appears to have triggered the explosion, according to the spokesman. “When dealing with the fire, the doors of the warehouse were opened, and the supply of oxygen resulted in the ammunition explosion, he explained.
Video footage circulated online following the incident shows firefighters and ambulances rushing to a building engulfed in flames.