Four young men were killed inside their vehicle in Libya’s western city of Zawiya after gunmen opened heavy fire on them, triggering angry protests overnight Saturday and into early Sunday.
The killings renewed concern over the proliferation of weapons and persistent insecurity in the city, which has repeatedly witnessed violence involving rival armed groups.
Protesters blocked several main roads and set tyres on fire as anger spread across Zawiya. Demonstrators demanded an immediate investigation, the identification of those responsible and their prosecution.
The four victims were travelling in a car when armed men fired a barrage of bullets at the vehicle, killing them at the scene, according to local reports.
Images and details of the incident circulated widely online, fuelling public outrage among residents frustrated by recurring killings and the continued presence of weapons outside state control.
Protesters called on the authorities to end extrajudicial violence, restore security and impose the authority of state institutions across the city. They also demanded concrete measures to hold those responsible accountable.
Zawiya has experienced repeated armed confrontations and periods of heightened tension in recent months, reflecting the fragile security situation across parts of western Libya.
Calls have intensified in Zawiya and elsewhere in western Libya for the government to curb the influence of armed groups, control the spread of weapons and strengthen official security institutions as part of broader efforts to stabilise the country.