Armed group tries to break into Libyan oil company headquarters

A group of armed individuals tried to break into the headquarters of the Libyan National Petroleum Corporation (NOC) on Monday, but were stopped after the guards received reinforcements.

The corporation said people armed in vehicles approached the headquarters in the capital Tripoli without identifying the group.

They caused chaos outside the offices and tried to break into the outer fence to reach the buildings, the NOC said in a statement.

Reinforcements were called in and the armed groups were repulsed without damage or casualties.
“A senior NOC official received threats this morning, which could be related to the incident,” the statement added.

The attempt took place shortly after the NOC said it will not transfer revenue to the central bank, citing a lack of transparency.

It also comes after last week’s UN-mediated talks aimed at unifying forces protecting oil facilities.

Oil production was halted for nine months as forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar closed oil fields and terminals to pressure their rivals, the United Nations’ Tripoli-based government acknowledged. They lifted the blockade in September.

Libya has been in crisis since the ruler Moamer Gaddafi was ousted in 2011. The country became a battlefield for rival forces and foreign powers have been embroiled in the conflict.