Gaddafi Killed in Direct Confrontation by Four Masked Gunmen The 53‑year‑old son of former ruler Muammar Gaddafi was shot dead inside his Zintan residence on 3 February 2026 after four masked assailants stormed the house and disabled security cameras [1][3][4]. His lawyer Khaled al‑Zaidi and political adviser Abdullah Othman confirmed the killing on Facebook, while Libya’s public prosecutor opened a murder investigation the same day [1][3]. Forensic experts were dispatched to collect evidence from the scene, underscoring the authorities’ immediate response [1].

Attackers Disabled CCTV Before Opening Fire According to the political team, the gunmen deliberately turned off the home’s CCTV system to conceal their actions, then opened fire in a “cowardly and treacherous” assault [3][4]. BBC reports that the assailants entered during a “direct confrontation,” and the prosecutor’s office described the incident as a shooting by unknown gunmen [1]. No official statement from Libya’s rival governments has confirmed the details, leaving the investigation reliant on the team’s account [4].

Reformist Background and Contested Legal Legacy Gaddafi held a Ph.D. candidacy at the London School of Economics and was long viewed as the regime’s reformist face [3][4]. He was captured by Zintan fighters in 2011, detained until a 2017 amnesty, and faced a 2015 death sentence in absentia from a Tripoli court, as well as an ICC arrest warrant for crimes against humanity [1][3]. His 2021 presidential bid was blocked by the High National Elections Committee, and he had been drafting a reconciliation proposal before his death [4].

Death Occurs Amid Libya’s Ongoing Split Between Rival Militias The killing happens while Libya remains divided between a UN‑backed government in the west and militia‑controlled factions in the east, a fragmentation that fuels instability [1][4]. The prosecutor’s murder probe and the deployment of forensic teams illustrate attempts to impose legal order despite the political vacuum [1]. The International Criminal Court has not yet responded to the incident, reflecting the broader diplomatic impasse [4].

Le Monde Reports Additional Militia Deaths and Body Display Le Monde adds that the assault also killed local militia chief Ajmeri Al‑Atiri and his son Mohammed, and that Gaddafi’s blood‑stained corpse was later shown on the back of a Toyota pickup [2]. These details were not mentioned in the other outlets, highlighting divergent reporting on the attack’s full scope [2].