Libyan official says militants kill 5 in separate incidents

BENGHAZI, Libya – A Libyan military commander says Islamic militants attacked a checkpoint and opened fire on civilians in two separate incidents in the central city of Sirte, leaving five people dead.

Ali al-Magrahi, head of the so-called Greater Sirte Operation Room affiliated with the self-styled Libya National Army, tells The Associated Press the first attack took place Tuesday when a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into an army checkpoint . Three were killed in the attack.

Al-Maghri says security forces uncovered two other suicide car bombers. Both fled before detonating their explosives but one opening fire on two civilians, killing them on the spot.

He provided no further details.

The attack on Sirte, Libya’s onetime Islamic State group stronghold, comes shortly after last week’s attack by which left 14 dead.