Libya: a helicopter shot down near Tripoli, at least nine dead

The helicopter was shot down Tuesday, October 27 west of the capital Tripoli. One of the leaders of the coalition militias Fajr Libya is one of the crash victims, the toll could rise.
“At least nine people aboard a helicopter were killed Tuesday in Libya when the unit was shot near Tripoli”, said the spokesman for the air force loyal to the authorities of the capital. The aircraft, which was carrying 16 people, was heading to Tripoli when he was under fire at 11h43 (local time) Tuesday morning.
Little hope of finding survivors
“The aircraft crashed at sea in the area of ​​al-Maya, west of the capital,” said Colonel Mostafa al-Sharkassi. A leader of the coalition of militias Libya Fajr (Dawn Libya), Colonel Hussein Abu Dayya, among the dead, he said. “We believe that all the passengers were killed,” said the colonel.
A security official in the Libyan capital, controlled by an unrecognized by the international community and supported by government Fajr Libya, had earlier said the plane was carrying 23 people.
“We will retaliate with force”
Besides Abu Dayya and three crew members, the aircraft was carrying Sharkassi according to the colonel, civilians, including two bank employees responsible for conveying money for officials. “The helicopter was unarmed. It is a crime “, denounced the Sharkassi colonel accused armed groups linked to the government recognized by the international community and established in the east of the country of being behind the attack.