The May 2 attack on the High National Election Commission (HNEC) in the Libyan capital came at a critical time, as the country prepares for the presidential and parliamentary elections later this year. In the early hours of the morning, two suicide bombers armed with explosive belts entered the HNEC’s headquarters in Tripoli after killing two armed guards.

At least 14 were killed in the attack, including both police officers responsible for securing the site and HNEC employees, and as many as 50 others were injured. Security around the building in the rundown Ghout al-Shaal district west of central Tripoli is not unusually tight, as the building was accessible to the public after going through standard procedures of personal checks and scanning of any carried items.

The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack without providing any proof regarding the deadly assault. Sources on the ground claimed that in the confusion of the scene security forces accidentally fired on those escaping the building. Hasan, an HNEC employee who did not want to give his last name, told Al-Monitor, “The police killed most of the people as they were fleeing the building,” as a large police force arrived at the scene shortly after the attack occurred and started firing at those leaving the building — believing they were the attackers.

This account was also confirmed by another eyewitness who lives nearby the stricken site in a phone call to Al-Monitor while the attack was taking place. Omar, speaking on condition only his first name be used, said, “Many police officers arrived at the gate of the building after the attack started and opened fire at the people coming out of the building.”