How Did 8 Recruits Die in an Accidental Blast at a Libya Training Centre?

Eight recruits were killed and several others wounded in an accidental blast during a live-fire exercise at a security training centre near Zawiya, in western Libya, late on Sunday 18 October 2026. An official from the city's security directorate described the explosion as accidental and said an investigation has been launched.

Key facts

• Where: A security training centre on the outskirts of Zawiya, in western Libya.
• When: Late on Sunday 18 October 2026, during a live-fire training exercise.
• Death toll: Eight recruits killed, according to an official from Zawiya's security directorate speaking to AFP.
• Injured: Several other recruits were wounded. The official account did not give an exact number of injured people.
• Cause as reported: A piece of ammunition used during the exercises exploded. The incident was described as accidental.
• Investigation: An investigation has been launched into the incident, which the official called tragic.

What happened

The recruits had joined a security force attached to the prime minister's office, the official said. They were conducting live-fire training at one of the agency's sites on the outskirts of Zawiya when a piece of ammunition used during these exercises exploded, killing and wounding several of them.

The official told AFP: "The accidental explosion last night killed eight recruits and wounded others at a security training centre." The account was reported on Monday 19 October 2026.

Casualties and emergency response

The confirmed toll in the official account is eight recruits killed, with several others wounded. No confirmed figure for the number of wounded was given in the official account, so this article does not state one as confirmed.

Early reports of the incident varied, with some reports giving a different death toll. This article follows the official account given to AFP, which put the number killed at eight, and treats the exact number of wounded as unconfirmed until officials release it.

The official account did not publish details of hospital transfers, the identities of those killed or wounded, or the medical condition of the wounded. Those details should not be assumed until they are confirmed by officials or by the families concerned.

What happens next

The official said an investigation has been launched into the incident. That investigation will need to establish how the ammunition came to explode during a training exercise, what safety checks were in place, and whether procedures at the training centre need to change.

Until the investigation reports, the confirmed public facts remain those given by the security directorate official: an accidental explosion during live-fire training, eight recruits killed, several others wounded, and an inquiry under way.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Zawiya training centre blast?

Eight recruits were killed, according to an official from Zawiya's security directorate speaking to AFP.

When did the explosion happen?

Late on Sunday 18 October 2026, during a live-fire training exercise at a security training centre on the outskirts of Zawiya.

Who were the victims?

The victims were recruits who had joined a security force attached to the prime minister's office. Their names were not given in the official account reported here.

What caused the explosion?

The official said a piece of ammunition used during the live-fire exercises exploded. The explosion was described as accidental.

Has an investigation been launched?

Yes. The official said an investigation has been launched into the incident, which he described as tragic.