Al-Awfea Brigade occupies Tripoli airport

A security source in Tripoli International Airport has said that an armed group belonging to the al-Awfea Brigade from the city of Tarhouna (88 km from Tripoli) has taken control over the airport in an armed attack. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Arabstoday that the airport was stormed by the militants after the head of the brigade, Abu Oegeila al-Hebeishi, was detained for being suspected of cooperating with the former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime to abort the revolution. The source also said that shots were fired between the militants and airport security, causing minor injuries to one of the security officers. The source added that the brigade was stationed with all its equipment and military vehicles inside the airport (comprising about 250 vehicle), disrupting air traffic, saying planes had instead been diverted to a military airport.  The source said negotiations are now taking place with members of the brigade to defuse the situation and evacuate the airport.