Quociente Cultural® · @Dputamadre
20th Aug 2013 from TwitLonger
ALERT#Libya »»» EU ambassador’s convoy attacked and escort vehicle robbed
Tripoli, 20 August 2013:
The last close support vehicle of a three-car convoy carrying EU Ambassador Nataliya Apostolova, was rammed outside the Corinthia Hotel and its occupants robbed at gun point. When the EU vehicle later tried to leave the scene, one of the two thieves opened fire on it.
The ambassador’s car which, with the lead security escort, had been ahead of the attacked vehicle, appears not to have been targeted . Both EU cars left the location at speed.
A formal complaint has been lodged with the Libyan government over the attack, which took place in broad daylight yesterday afternoon, as the ambassador’s convoy left the Corinthia on its way to her residence in Palm City.
“ I received a call from the foreign minister last night ” the EU diplomat told the Libya Herald, “ and we will be having a meeting next Monday to discuss what happened”.
Apostolova explained that the “soft-skinned” escort vehicle had been hit by another car without plates. “The close protection officer on board got out to speak to the other driver and was threatened with a gun. The men then stole some articles from the car.”
The EU security man then re-boarded his vehicle whose driver sought to leave the scene, at which point, said the ambassador, several shots were fired at it. There were no injuries to the people in the EU car, apart from some bruising sustained by the close protection officer. The white EU vehicle returned to the Corinthia parking area where guests noted its smashed rear window.
Apostolova said that she was disappointed by the fact that security staff at the Corinthia garage opposite the attack, had not sought to intervene during the incident. “They didn’t help” she complained, adding that a police vehicle had driven up, seen the robbers’ guns and also held back from becoming involved.
The EU ambassador’s own armoured vehicle continued to Palm City. She said that it was only then that her staff told her of the attack. In recent days there have reportedly been concerns that EU vehicles may have been shadowed by unidentified vehicles." Via Libya Herald that removed the page http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/08/20/eu-ambassadors-convoy-attacked-and-escort-vehicle-robbed/