By Muetaz Wannes
TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Unknown assailants killed Abdel-Rahman Milad, also known as "Al-Bidja," who commanded a coast guard unit in the western town of Zawiya, opening fire on his vehicle on Sunday in the Janzour suburb of the Libyan capital Tripoli.
A security source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case said that Milad was intercepted by gunmen who shot him dead with automatic rifles, according to local media.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the killing. While the identity of the assailants remains unclear, the source noted that Milad had many enemies.
Following the assassination, there are concerns about potential security tensions in Tripoli, particularly due to armed mobilizations by groups loyal to Milad in his hometown of Zawiya, located 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the capital.
Khalid al-Mishri, head of the High Council of State, expressed his condolences to Milad's family and colleagues, highlighting Milad's efforts in reconciliation and his role in revitalizing the Naval Academy after a 14-year hiatus. He also called on authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute those responsible for the assassination.
Milad, a prominent security figure in western Libya, was accused by several countries, including the US and the UK, of leading a major human trafficking network.
His name was listed in a 2018 UN Security Council report as the leader of a notorious human trafficking gang involved in severe human rights abuses.
Both the US and UK imposed sanctions on him the same year. Although arrested by Libya's Government of National Accord in October 2020, Milad was released after a few months.
*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul