Mass jailbreak reported in Libya's Sirman amid armed clashes, three civilians killed

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan police said a large number of detainees escaped from a prison in the city of Sirman, west of Tripoli, during armed clashes between groups on Tuesday. The Judicial Police Unit said an investigation has been opened and a committee formed to identify the escaped prisoners and carry out the required legal procedures, though it did not disclose how many inmates fled. Three civilians were killed in the violence and others were wounded, according to the statement. The identities of the groups involved and the trigger for the fighting have not yet been established. Salem Bahir, a Zawiya notable, called on the parties to end the clashes, telling them there are no winners in such a situation. The Zawiya Refinery, the country's largest operational facility with a production capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, urged its employees to stay away from the fighting areas and roads leading to them. Sirman Mayor Mohammed Abu Sinine described conditions in the city as "very bad," adding that relative calm was restored after a neutral force was deployed. No further details were immediately available on the number of escapees or the investigation's findings.