Blast near UK, Canada embassies rattles Tripoli

Published July 24th, 2013 - 07:06 GMT
Men examine a car destroyed in a blast near embassies in Tripoli (AFP / MAHMUD TURKIA)
Men examine a car destroyed in a blast near embassies in Tripoli (AFP / MAHMUD TURKIA)

TRIPOLI, Libya -- A possible car bomb went off in front of the Tripoli Towers in Libya, Tuesday near the British and Canadian embassies, officials said.

A car was destroyed but conflicting reports called it a car bombing or a rocket-propelled grenade attack aimed at the building, which houses the embassies and a host of company offices in the heart of the city's downtown business district. Some reports suggested the rocket missed its intended target and struck the car instead.

Rick Roth, a spokesman for the Canadian foreign minister, said on Twitter the Canadian Embassy was closed at the time of the attack and all embassy employees were safe.