The bomb attack on the court buildings in Misrata have killed four people

A major attack on the court buildings in Misrata this morning is reported to have killed four people and seriously injured 15.At least a further 25 are said to have been wounded in what appears to have been a coordinated assault for which the so-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility. The court was in session when it was attacked around 11.30 am by three men who started shooting.It was initially suggested that the assault may have been an attempt to free IS members who were on trial.However, the mayor of Misrata, Mohamed Eshtewi, has said that no IS trial was taking place.The shootout lasted for over half an hour during which the judicial police and support units that arrived to help them managed to kill one of the attackers. Reports of a car bomb outside the court were not true. Defence ministry and formerly Bunyan Marsous spokesman Mohamed al-Ghasri has said that the attack targeted the head of the court, Assadik Badi, saying it was in revenge for statements he had made about IS.