On 14 May, following serious football riots that spread from Tarhouna, unknown individuals threw Molotov cocktails at the facade of the Prime Minister’s office at al-Sikka road in Tripoli. The building’s façade was significantly damaged by fire – part of it collapsed. Subsequently, security forces used live rounds to disperse the crowd.
A significant number of security forces, including from the Libyan Army, were deployed around government facilities and on major roads and squares to contain the situation.
The National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL) said it was deeply alarmed by footage showing armed personnel, reportedly from the 444th Combat Brigade, firing live rounds at spectators after the al‑Swehli–al‑Ittihad match was halted, injuring at least one fan. It condemned the attackers’ disregard for civilian safety and held both the unit’s commander and the head of the Libyan Football Federation responsible for repeated failures to protect fans. The institution urged the Interior Minister, Attorney General, and Military Prosecutor to open a full investigation and ensure accountability. It also warned of rising violence at sporting events and called for banning firearms in stadiums and creating a trained force to protect sports facilities.
On 15 May in the evening, the Prime Minister’s Protection and Security Force announced that it has arrested several individuals involved in the break‑in and vandalism that occurred around the PM Office in Tripoli. The detainees were handed over to the Internal Security Agency for legal action. The Force claimed that infiltrators within the crowd had fired live rounds, prompting security personnel to act with extreme caution to avoid casualties, while maintaining maximum restraint. The force stressed that peaceful expression is a protected right, but attacks on public institutions, acts of vandalism, and endangering citizens’ lives are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.