Thirteen Maltese workers returned home yesterday on a special flight from Tripoli, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told Parliament last night.
Speaking about Tuesday’s attack on the Corinthia Hotel in the Libyan capital, Dr Muscat said the number of victims and their nationality were not yet confirmed. However, the “most credible” figure was 14.
They include four Libyan airline crew members, probably from Tajikistan, an American victim who worked with a security company and Libyan victims.
It did not seem there were any Maltese among the victims, he added.
Dr Muscat said that soon after the attack, nine Maltese hotel employees were evacuated to a secure place and another two remained on site because they were responsible for the management of the hotel.
In the evening, the 11 Maltese, together with another 13 Maltese citizens who work at Palm City, were taken to a safe place.
“Of the 24, 13 were brought to Malta on a special flight... The other 11 who work with Corinthia remained in Libya out of their own choice despite being urged, even through direct contact, to leave the country.
“I’m making it clear that these people, and every Maltese citizen in Libya, remain there against the government’s advice,” he said.
Dr Muscat said the attack did not seem to have been directed at Malta or Maltese interests.
I’m making it clear that these people, and every Maltese citizen in Libya, remain there against the government’s advice
There were a number of versions about the motive, he continued, pointing out that neither the government nor the Security Service could independently verify the correct one.
However, the three most likely versions were that this was either an attack by the Islamic State to destabilise Libya, an attack to kill the Prime Minister of the unrecognised Tripoli government or an attack by Al Qaeda.
Dr Muscat again insisted that if the Libyan people demanded assistance, the international community should be ready to send a UN force to help the North African state establish security, dismantle illegal militias and build governing institutions.
His statement was followed by a minute of silence as a tribute to the victims of the attack, called by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.
Dr Busuttil, who attended a security committee meeting called by the Prime Minister in the morning, said he supported the government’s effort to safeguard the Maltese in Libya and Maltese commercial interests.
He joined Dr Muscat in his appeal to the Maltese in Libya to return home as soon as possible.
Promising the Opposition’s support, he urged the government to make the fight against terrorism a political priority. Nothing should be taken for granted in the current international climate and the fight against terrorism should be given the importance it deserved.
Libya was in a state of anarchy and could become a nest of terrorist activities, Dr Busuttil warned.