At least 12 dead after suicide bombers storm Libya election commission headquarters

At least 12 people were dead and several were left injured on Wednesday after a group of suicide bombers stormed into the head offices of Libya's electoral commission in Tripoli on Wednesday.

The three attackers set the building on fire before two of them blew themselves up and one was killed in an exchange of fire with the security forces. Several offices were set ablaze in the attack.

Eyewitnesses said they heard two loud explosions followed by heavy gunfire. As per reports, three people were severely wounded in the attack. The identity of the attackers is yet to be known.

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There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but it appeared aimed at derailing efforts to organise elections in Libya by the end of this year, part of a UN-led attempt to unify and stabilise the country after years of conflict and political division.

Wednesday's attack was the first of its kind in Tripoli for several years. Though security across Libya remains volatile, violence in the capital has recently been limited to localised clashes between armed groups.

Pictures posted on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the site of the attack, in the Ghout al-Shaal district west of central Tripoli.

"I saw two suicide bombers myself... they were shouting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest)," said Omar, adding that he had seen bombers' body parts strewn on the ground.

"A suicide bomber blew up himself inside the commission and the others set a part of the building on fire."

The victims included three employees of the commission and four members of local security forces, Omar said. The health ministry put the toll at 12 dead and seven wounded.