(Previous Incident Code: LG004i)

On March March 19th 2011, forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town of Misurata with either airstrikes or artillery shelling, which resulted to up to 50 civilians killed and 84 wounded.

Al Bayan reported that 25 people were killed and 70 wounded during the bombing by the Libyan leader’s forces in the city of Misurata, which at that time was controlled by the armed opposition. Protesters and residents in the town of Misrata said forces loyal to Gaddafi bombed the town with heavy weapons. Tariq, a doctor from Misrata who lives in Britain, said. “There is heavy bombing in the town. They cannot send any ambulances. They [locals] believe it is artillery and tank shelling, not airstrikes. It is very worrying.”

The attack began hours after the UN Security Council decided to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and launch military attacks on Gaddafi forces to protect civilians, and before Tripoli announced any cessation of military operations.

According to @abanidrees, “The death toll from Misurata was more than 50 martyrs and 84 wounded as a result of the violent bombardment by the Gaddafi forces, quoting an eyewitness to Al-Jazeera English”