In the Press: Attack on Corinthia hotel in Libya

MaltaToday

Suicide bombers thought to have been affiliated with the Islamic State group attacked the Corinthia Bab Africa hotel in Libya yesterday. Three security guards were killed as the group, of as many as five men, made its way into the hotel before detonating explosives on the 21st floor. All Maltese members of staff are confirmed to be safe and sound.

The Times of Malta

PM Joseph Muscat is set to address the attack on the Corinthia hotel in parliament this afternoon. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was also briefed on the intelligence available to the government. 

In-Nazzjon

This newspaper also reports on the Tripoli bombing. A car bomb had been detonated at a checkpoint close to the hotel before the attack on the hotel itself. Reports differ in the number of victims of the attack, with some saying as many as eight members of staff had been killed.

L-Orizzont

The motives for the attack are so far unclear. This newspaper suggests that the bombing could have been an attempt on the life of Omar al-Hassi, the head of the Tripoli-based government. It could also have been a revenge attack after an al-Qaeda prisoner recently died in a hospital in the US.

The Malta Independent

The health and energy ministry has denied that Godwin Sant, the recently suspended Malta Resources Authority official thought to have been involved in the oil scandal, had been part of Konrad Mizzi's private secretariat.