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Libya arrests two suspects in Korean embassy attack

May 26, 2015 - 10:58 By KH디지털2

Two suspects in an April attack on the South Korean embassy in Libya have been arrested, Seoul's foreign ministry said, citing information from Libyan police.

Libyan police informed South Korea that they have recently caught the militants behind the shooting attack, which killed two local security guards. Another was critically wounded as the gunmen fired more than 40 machine-gun shots toward the guard post in the embassy compound on April 12.

The suspects were quoted as telling police that they carried out the attack for "personal revenge," according to the ministry.

"A senior Libyan investigator said the attack seems to be attributable to personal matters between the security guards and assailants," it said. "Chances look low that ISIL was involved or (the attack) was politically motivated."

South Korea will maintain keen interest in the probe into the case, including the identity of the attackers and the reason for their act, said the ministry.

Shortly after the assault, South Korea tentatively transferred its two diplomats and one staffer at the embassy in Tripoli to the Tunisian capital.

"A trial for the suspects is expected in Libya," a local embassy official said. "An embassy staff member will visit Tripoli to figure out related details if security conditions there improve." (Yonhap)