Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former ruler Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in Zintan, western Libya, on Tuesday.
Libyan prosecutors have launched an investigation into his death, dispatching forensic experts to the scene and seeking witnesses.
According to reports, four masked gunmen stormed his house, disabling security systems before shooting him. His lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, described it as a “heinous crime”.
Seif al-Islam, 53, was a prominent figure in Libya, once regarded as his father’s likely successor.
He had been living in Zintan since his release from detention in 2017, after being sentenced to death in absentia in 2015 for alleged crimes during the 2011 uprising. The killing has heightened tensions in Libya, already divided between rival administrations in Tripoli and the east.
No group has claimed responsibility, and authorities are urging caution and responsible judgment.
Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s former dictator, met his end on October 20, 2011, in Sirte, his hometown.
He was captured by rebel forces after a NATO airstrike hit his convoy, and footage showed him being dragged alive from a drainage pipe.
However, he was later pronounced dead, with reports suggesting he was shot in the head during a scuffle with rebels.
His body was displayed in a refrigerated meat truck in Misrata, and later buried in a secret location in the desert to prevent his grave from becoming a shrine for loyalists.
Human Rights Watch investigated his death and found evidence suggesting he may have been executed after capture, but the exact circumstances remain unclear.
