The United Nations says more than 12 African migrants were shot dead by human traffickers while attempting to escape a camp in Libya, where some were subjected to "torture" and "abuse and exploitation".
"Human traffickers in Libya reportedly killed more than a dozen people and wounded many others after a group of some 200 Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis, being held captive, attempted to escape," the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement.
We are appalled by a deadly incident in Libya in which traffickers killed 12 people after a group of some 200 captive Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis attempted to escape.
UNHCR colleagues are on the ground helping the survivors, who include children. trib.al/m3pdHkJ
The incident occurred in Bani Walid, approximately 180 km (110 miles) southeast of the capital Tripoli, which is a transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe. People traffickers and kidnappers are believed to run 20 detention centres in the town.
"This latest deadly incident demonstrates, once again, the huge challenge of providing protection to refugees in Libya, where many people fleeing war and persecution fall prey to criminal networks," UNHCR said.
