Authorities in Libya have arrested five people who are believed to be connected to a series of drone attacks that targeted major energy facilities according to the government.
Officials stated that the arrests revealed what they called a ” plot” that involved a suspected sabotage group. The group is said to have planned attacks on a power station located south of Tripoli and other important infrastructure. Authorities mentioned that some of the people arrested are from countries but did not give more information.
The arrests happened after a number of attacks around the Zawiya energy complex, which’s about 45 kilometers west of Tripoli. In August a large petrol reservoir at the site caught fire because of a reported drone strike as stated by Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC).
More drone attacks were later reported at the complex while the NOC said another attempt to attack fuel tanks outside Tripoli was stopped on Thursday.
Libya has the proven oil reserves in Africa which makes its energy infrastructure very important for the country’s economy. However years of disagreements and ongoing insecurity have kept causing problems for this sector.
The country has stayed split since the 2011 end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule with different governments based in Tripoli and eastern Libya fighting for power.
Authorities have not said who they think is responsible, for the attacks or if the people arrested have been officially charged.
