Blast in Libya's Benghazi injures 12 school children

An explosive device went off in a private school in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi on Wednesday, wounding 12 students, including two in critical condition, security sources told Xinhua. Benghazi Joint Security Room spokesman Ibrahim Al Sharaa said that an explosion hit Mahd Al Maarafa private school in Al Fuwayahat area in the western entrance of Benghazi city, leaving 12 students injured. Unknown men threw the explosive device from outside the school during a breakfast break while students were present at the courtyard, the spokesman said. He added that investigations are underway to identify motives and reasons behind this "criminal act." However, another security source said that seven students were expelled on Tuesday from the school after being spotted with violations. One of them is suspected to be involved in the attack and "this will be proved or denied by investigations," the source said. Meanwhile, unidentified armed men attacked a special force unit of the Libyan army in central Benghazi on Tuesday night, no casualties were reported.