Libyan militants shoot down police helicopter

According to news reports, a police helicopter was shot down over Benghazi, Libya on 6 July by militants believed to support autonomy for eastern Libya. The helicopter was carrying election materials onboard when it was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Although the pilot survived, one passenger, a member of the High Electoral Committee, was killed.

The incident took place on the day before Libyans went to the polls to elect members of a national congress, set to replace the National Transitional Council that has held power since the Gaddafi regime was overthrown. In other attacks, polling stations were raided and ballet boxes destroyed by so-called ‘federalist’ militants.