ASSASSINATION OF SECURITY OFFICER IN EASTERN LIBYA

S E C R E T TRIPOLI 000298

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, INR AND S/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/8/2018
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, KISL, LY
SUBJECT: ASSASSINATION OF SECURITY OFFICER IN EASTERN LIBYA

REF: TD-314/026364-08

CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, Dept of
State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Websites al-Manara and Libya al-Youm reported on March 28
and 29, respectively, that a "senior security official" of the
Internal Security Organization (ISO) was assassinated on March
27 in the eastern Libyan city of Derna. The sites identified
the officer as Ennaji 'Awami, and said he died after being shot
twice in the head by masked gunmen in front of the al-Qods
School. According to website reports, the slain officer's
vehicle was subsequently found parked in the al-Qala' area of
Derna's Baab Shiha neighborhood. (Note: al-Qala' - "fortress" or
"castle" - is a reference to the historic fort located in that
area of town. End note.) According to website reports,
security officials mounted a campaign of arrests immediately
after 'Awami was killed, but failed to apprehend the
perpetrators. They noted that 'Awami was well-known for his
"severity and cruelty" and had received multiple death threats
before he was killed.

2. (C) Italian, British and Egyptian diplomats told Emboffs
April 5-7 that their missions confirmed that the killing had
occurred. (Note: Italy and Egypt have consulates in Benghazi,
the closest major city to Derna. End note.) Egyptian PolCouns
Ahmed Abdel Halim told P/E Chief on April 7 that the Egyptian
Consulate in Benghazi confirmed reports that 'Awami was the
victim and that he had been killed by gunfire. Their
information was that he was shot in front of a Derna school
while waiting to pick up his children. It was not/not clear to
Egyptian officials whether the assassination was an act of
terrorism perpetrated by Islamic extremists or a revenge
killing, although Egyptian contacts in Derna took pains to
characterize 'Awami as "a hard man" and "a bully". Noting the
above-referenced web reports, Abdel Halim stressed that
targeting security officials - a phenomenon with which Egypt has
some experience - was "extremely rare" in Libya. If confirmed
as a targeted killing perpetrated by Islamic extremists, it
would represent a "very significant" development, he said.

3. (S/NF) Comment: Post notes that the information above is
consistent with some information reported reftel on April 6.
The al-Manara and Libya al-Youm websites feature significant
reporting on events in eastern Libya. That al-Manara, a
London-based site established in 2002, posted its report within
a day of the shooting suggests close, well-established contact
between eastern Libya and members of the Libyan diaspora in the
U.K. End comment.

STEVENS