4 Libyan security elements were slaughtered in a terrorist attack east of Tripoli

Four people were killed in an attack by suspected militants on a checkpoint east of the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday, local official newspapers said.

The attack took place between the towns of Zliten and Khoms on the coastal road leading from Tripoli to the port city of Misrata, Zliten mayor Miftah Hamadi said.

Daesh militants, who are active in the area, were thought to be behind the attack, he added. Security personnel at the checkpoint were among the dead.

Libya has seen occasional attacks by Islamist militants who have benefited from the turmoil that followed a Nato-backed uprising in 2011.

Hours earlier, the Daesh group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, urged followers to attack enemies everywhere by all means, including in knife attacks.