Off the wire
• Update: Jordan executes al-Qaida prisoners in wake of pilot's death  • China's manned sub Jiaolong floats in ocean for whole night due to crane failure  • Afdb grants 1 mln USD to help Madagascar stem plague  • Xinhua Insight: China eyes GMO progress amid crop shrinkage, safety concerns  • China vows supervision for scandal-hit milk industry  • Another Nigerian political party adopts Jonathan as presidential candidate  • "The Hobbit" leads China's box office for second week  • Gold price closes lower in Hong Kong  • UN to support DR Congo army in fighting rebels  • Foreign exchange rates in Hong Kong  
You are here: 　 Home

Libya's al-Mabrook oilfield attacked by gunmen

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

An armed group mounted an attack on Libya's al-Mabrook oilfield Wednesday, according to security sources.

The armed group, consisting of around 20 armed vehicles, stormed the field and kidnapped a number of local guards, a security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The official said the gunmen are suspected to be affiliated with the Islamic State (IS).

Libya's state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) later confirmed the armed attack, saying it will deal with it "promptly with a preset security plan."

The oil-field is located in Libya's central province of Jufrah, some 650 km southeast of Tripoli. It is run by NOC and France's Total.

Since the 2011 downfall of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya, a major oil-producer of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has been plagued with armed clashes, kidnappings and assassinations. Endit