Police says Libyans entered nation on research visas to coach as safety guards, however could have obtained army coaching.
South African police have detained 95 Libyan nationals for questioning on suspicion of receiving coaching at a secret army camp.
Police mentioned on Friday that they’d carried out a morning raid on the alleged army camp, positioned at a farm in White River in Mpumalanga province within the north of the nation.
“We’re not arresting them now, however we’re taking them in for questioning and can examine any legal exercise,” mentioned police spokesman Donald Mdhluli.
“The location was mentioned to be a coaching camp for a safety firm, however it’s a army base by the seems to be of issues,” he mentioned, including that the proprietor of the safety firm was a South African nationwide.
Police mentioned the operation to arrest the Libyans and shut down the camp started two days in the past. Tv footage from the scene confirmed a heavy police presence exterior the suspected camp, which included inexperienced military-style tents and sandbags.
Nationwide police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe mentioned in a put up on X that the Libyans mentioned they have been coming into the nation on research visas to coach as safety guards, however police investigations instructed they’d obtained army coaching.
It was not instantly clear whether or not the 95 people have been affiliated to any group.
Libya continues to be riven by battle and civil conflict greater than a decade after the 2011 NATO-backed overthrow of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
The nation is split between the United Nations-recognised authorities primarily based in Tripoli and a rival administration within the nation’s east.
Though relative calm has returned to the oil-rich nation prior to now 4 years, clashes periodically happen between armed teams.
“We take any risk to the safety and stability of our province and nation very critically,” mentioned Main Basic Zeph Mkhwanazi, provincial commissioner of the South African police in Mpumalanga.
The investigation was “nonetheless ongoing”, mentioned his workplace in a press release, underlining that there was “no instant risk to group security”.
