Tobruk Security Directorate confirmed on Thursday evening that its security forces managed to repel an armed attack carried out by members of a "fuel smuggling gang" on the Al-Jihad police station at three o'clock in the morning.

Officers from the station had earlier seized a fuel truck and arrested four members of the gang.

The directorate said in a statement that "the armed group attempted to re-take the truck and free the smugglers inside the center."

The directorate added that it was able to "confront and defeat them" after an intense exchange of fire, noting that the Security Director issued instructions to shoot any armed person and arrest everyone who participated in the attack.