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People smuggler who 'transferred thousands to Europe killed in shootout'
Source: The Guardian
People smuggler who 'transferred thousands to Europe killed in shootout'
Rosie Scammell in Rome and Chris Stephen in Tunis
Saturday 26 September 2015 17.24 BST
An alleged ringleader behind the smuggling of thousands of people from Libya to Europe has been targeted in a shootout, with speculation in Tripoli that foreign agents were behind the attack.
Salah al-Maskhout was attacked on Friday alongside eight other men in the Tripoli suburb of Furnaj by a four-strong hit squad. The Italian government said he died in the attack, while a relative reportedly insisted he is still alive.
Maskhout is from Zuwara, a coastal city in north-west Libya that has become a hub for the smuggling of tens of thousands of refugees and migrants. He was visiting relatives in the capital during Eid.
A Fornaj resident said the attack took place at 7am, with the attackers arriving in a 4X4 vehicle and rapidly departing after a short blaze of gunfire. According to local media reports, tMaskhout was leaving his relatives’ home with his security detail when the attack happened.
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Rosie Scammell in Rome and Chris Stephen in Tunis
Saturday 26 September 2015 17.24 BST
An alleged ringleader behind the smuggling of thousands of people from Libya to Europe has been targeted in a shootout, with speculation in Tripoli that foreign agents were behind the attack.
Salah al-Maskhout was attacked on Friday alongside eight other men in the Tripoli suburb of Furnaj by a four-strong hit squad. The Italian government said he died in the attack, while a relative reportedly insisted he is still alive.
Maskhout is from Zuwara, a coastal city in north-west Libya that has become a hub for the smuggling of tens of thousands of refugees and migrants. He was visiting relatives in the capital during Eid.
A Fornaj resident said the attack took place at 7am, with the attackers arriving in a 4X4 vehicle and rapidly departing after a short blaze of gunfire. According to local media reports, tMaskhout was leaving his relatives’ home with his security detail when the attack happened.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/26/libya-alleged-key-people-smuggler-killed-in-shootout