Terrorism in Libya
The risk of terrorist attacks in Libya over the past years can be classified as very high. Compared to other countries, here are many and momentous events. Over the past 5 years a total number of 1765 terrorist incidents has been recorded, in which 1880 people have been killed and 2716 injured. Among them were 69 suicide acts.In 415 incedents a total of 1983 people have been kidnapped or taken as hostage, though a ransom was rarely (29 times) extorted.
› Topic page: Terrorism
Back to overview: Libya
Most frequent attack targets in Libya
(2013 to 2017)| Target | Attacks | Killed | Injured | Hostages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private citizens | 618 | 1,043 | 1,192 | 1,212 |
| Government | 284 | 121 | 232 | 133 |
| Business | 199 | 174 | 190 | 325 |
| Police | 177 | 231 | 303 | 224 |
| Military | 154 | 438 | 285 | 219 |
| Non-state militias | 122 | 354 | 1,031 | 9 |
| Journalists & Media | 75 | 18 | 9 | 51 |
| Religious institutions | 66 | 39 | 22 | 14 |
| Airports & Aircraft | 40 | 20 | 98 | 116 |
| Educational institution | 39 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Most affected regions
(2013 to 2017)| Region | Attacks | Killed | Injured | Hostages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benghazi | 614 | 649 | 1,238 | 77 |
| Tripoli | 338 | 257 | 589 | 711 |
| Sirte | 306 | 286 | 205 | 516 |
| Derna | 154 | 163 | 201 | 71 |
| Misrata | 66 | 153 | 199 | 94 |
| Wahat | 54 | 45 | 33 | 124 |
| Jabal Al Akhdar | 30 | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| Zawiya | 30 | 8 | 10 | 23 |
| Sabha | 30 | 22 | 36 | 119 |
| Jabal Al Gharbi | 27 | 30 | 55 | 13 |
| Murqub | 17 | 18 | 17 | 9 |
| Nuqat Al Khams | 16 | 20 | 10 | 109 |
| Butnan | 16 | 4 | 37 | 1 |
| Jafara | 11 | 31 | 28 | 2 |
| Wadi Al Hayaa | 10 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
| Jufra | 10 | 38 | 8 | 44 |
| Murzuq | 4 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Kufra | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Wadi Al Shatii | 3 | 141 | 0 | 1 |
| Ghat | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Terrorist organisations in Libya
| Organisation | Attacks | Killed | Injured | Hostages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamic State | 428 | 666 | 718 | 746 |
| Haftar Militia | 25 | 101 | 220 | 3 |
| Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries | 13 | 44 | 105 | 0 |
| Misrata Brigades | 10 | 145 | 1 | 2 |
| Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna | 8 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| Libya Shield Force | 7 | 2 | 4 | 15 |
| February 17 Martyrs Brigade | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Tripoli Revolutionaries Battalion | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Abu Obaida bin Jarrah Brigade | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kani Brigade | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Al-Qaqa Brigade | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
All information sourced from the "National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism" (START) and its Global Terrorism Database. An act of terrorism is concidered every incident which is aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal, but not for pure profit motives. In addition these incidents must not be legitimized by warfare activities, listet in the Geneva Conventions of 1949.