Death toll of IS suicide attack on Libyan election commission rises to 14

Photo taken on May 2, 2018 shows a view of the Libya's Higher Commission of Elections in Tripoli, Libya. The death toll of the attack carried out by IS suicide bombers on the Libya's Higher Commission of Elections in Tripoli has risen to 14 dead and more than 10 wounded, according to Tripoli's public field hospital. (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)

TRIPOLI, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has risen to 14 in the IS suicide attack on headquarters of Libya's Higher Commission of Elections Wednesday, a medical source said.

Mohamed Ben Khalil, vice chairman of Tripoli's public field hospital said 10 people were wounded with varying degrees of severity, confirming that the death toll is likely to rise.

The attackers stormed the commission's building and clashed with the security forces, and eventually blew themselves up after being surrounded by backup security, an official of the interior ministry told Xinhua earlier Wednesday.

The attack took place as the UN-backed government, in cooperation with the UN Support Mission in Libya, prepares to hold presidential and parliamentary elections before the end of this year, as proposed by the head of the mission, Ghassan Salame.

Abdalhakim Belkhair, deputy head of the commission, told Xinhua the attack "seeks to send out clear messages attempting to thwart the upcoming elections in any way."