27 killed as twin car bombs hit Libya s Benghazi (Second Lead)

Tripoli Jan 24 (IANS) At least 27 people have been killed in twin car bombings near a mosque in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

The blasts took place on Tuesday night within minutes of each other the BBC reported on Wednesday.

The first vehicle blew up in front of a mosque in the central al-Sleimani neighbourhood as worshippers were leaving the building after evening prayers.

A second car exploded soon afterwards as residents and medics gathered to evacuate the wounded.

An Army officer was among those killed. A health official said 32 others were wounded. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

These were the most violent bombings in Benghazi in months after the Army took control of the entire city after the completion of operations against terrorist groups there.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the attacks. "UNSMIL condemns the horrific bombings in al-Salmani residential neighbourhood in Benghazi causing many casualties including civilians " it in a post on Facebook.

--IANS
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