At least nine people were killed and several others injured after a mortar shell exploded during military training at a security camp in western Libya, according to local media and emergency officials.

The explosion occurred on Sunday evening at a camp operated by the Agency for Combating Security Threats in the Al-Harsha area of Zawiya, about 60 kilometres west of the capital, Tripoli.

Citing a medical source, Al-Ahrar TV reported that the blast occurred when a mortar shell detonated during a training exercise, killing at least nine people. Several others were injured and transferred to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Emergency services said the bodies of the victims and the injured were taken to hospitals in Zawiya, while local health authorities appealed to residents to donate blood because of shortages at medical facilities.

No official statement has yet been issued on the exact cause of the explosion, and authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Camp linked to Interior Ministry agency

The Agency for Combating Security Threats operates under Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Interior and is commanded by Mohammed Bahroun, widely known by the nickname "Al-Far."

There has been no indication so far that the explosion was the result of an external attack, with initial reports suggesting it occurred during a military training exercise involving mortar ammunition.

Security concerns persist in Zawiya

The incident comes amid continuing security challenges in Zawiya, a strategically important coastal city that has frequently witnessed tensions involving armed groups despite repeated efforts by the Libyan authorities to improve stability.

Libya has remained politically and militarily divided since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. Although large-scale fighting has declined in recent years, security incidents involving rival armed groups and military facilities continue to occur in several parts of the country.(ILKHA)