Russia's embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli came under fire on Wednesday (October 2) and a group of people tried to force their way into the compound, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Diplomatic sources in Libya said security guards fired shots to disperse a group of about 60 people that had approached the embassy. An attempt to enter the building was repelled and according to the Foreign Ministry no diplomats were wounded.

Embassy staff had been taken to the airport as a precaution.

There have been a number of attacks on Western diplomats by militant groups. Militants linked to al Qaeda affiliates attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans on Sept. 11, 2012.

However, one Libyan security source said the attack did not appear to be directly linked to any militant group. He said the crowd were angered by the killing, as they saw it, of a Libyan by a Russian woman.

The embassy was empty at the time, but Russia evacuated embassy staff and their families from Libya on Thursday (October 3).

Presented by Adam Justice

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-libya-embassy-woman-murder-evacuation-511188