Libya-Egypt Border Closed Following Benghazi Prison Break

The Libyan side of the Musaid border crossing between Libya and Egypt has been closed following the escape of over 1,000 prisoners from Kauyfia Prison.

The closure is understood to be a precautionary measure, to prevent any of the 1,182 convicts who escaped in the early hours of yesterday morning, from crossing the border.

The head of the Mumsaid border crossing, Abd Assalam Al-Sakir, said the border had been closed at midnight, citing the prison break as the reason for the closure. The border would remain closed, he said, for 72 hours or until orders had been received to reopen it.

At a press-conference the prime minister said only trade cargoes will be allowed to cross the border. Zeidan said that Tripoli has already informed the Egyptian government about this decision. He added that the list of the suspects’ names will soon be sent to Cairo just in case the criminals have already managed to leave the territory of Libya. The prime minister also appealed to the international community for help in the investigation of this high-profile crime.

However, according to a statement on the official website of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, the border could remain partly closed, with only goods allowed through the crossing, until the end of Ramadan. “No-one can leave the country through the Musaid border crossing,” Zeidan said. He added that the Egyptian authorities would be given the names of the escaped convicts to aid their capture.