Libya Launches Probe into Assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Son of Former Dictator Muammar Gaddafi

 

The Office of the Attorney General, led by Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, confirmed on Wednesday that forensic experts examined the scene and Saif al-Islam's body, determining that he died from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators have begun collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and seizing items from the residence to identify suspects and establish the circumstances of the attack.

According to statements from Saif al-Islam's political team and advisers, four masked gunmen stormed his home in a "cowardly and treacherous assassination." Reports indicate the assailants disabled security cameras before confronting him, leading to a direct exchange that ended in his death. His body was reportedly taken to a private hospital in Zintan, and sources close to the family stated he would not be buried until the investigation concludes.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, aged 53, was once viewed as his father's heir apparent and a key figure in Libya's political landscape. Educated in the West and known for his reformist rhetoric in the 2000s, he played a significant role in defending the regime during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. He faced an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes but was captured and held for years before his release in 2017 under an amnesty.

In recent years, Saif al-Islam had attempted a political comeback, including a presidential bid that contributed to the disruption of national elections. Despite his faded public presence, his death has reignited debates over accountability, lingering vendettas from the 2011 civil war, and the fragile security situation in Libya's divided landscape.

No group has claimed responsibility for the killing, and local armed factions, including those affiliated with Tripoli's defense ministry, have denied involvement. Calls for a transparent probe have emerged from various political figures, amid concerns that the incident could exacerbate tensions in the country.

The Attorney General's office emphasized its commitment to pursuing justice, with efforts underway to bring those responsible to account. Further developments in the investigation are expected as authorities continue their work.

This killing marks another violent chapter in the Gaddafi family's turbulent post-2011 fate, following Muammar Gaddafi's death during the revolution and the earlier killings or imprisonments of other family members.