More than 30 people have been killed and dozens were injured in an explosion of stored ammunition and fireworks inside a container in the town of Qaraboulli.

Heavy clashes broke out early Tuesday between local fighters and brigades from Misrata, which have stationed in the town for nearly 5 years.

Eyewitnesses said the clashes were ignited when one of the brigades’ members assaulted a shopkeeper Monday afternoon. The shopkeeper responded by killing the attacker. As a result, the victim’s brigade attacked the house of the shopkeeper, who managed to escape, and set it ablaze.

This attack on the house has caused widespread outrage in the town and people started to turn against these brigades early today, a local resident told the Libya Observer.

The local resident, who preferred not to be named, added that local fighters attacked all Misrata brigades’ bases in the town using only assault rifles.

No casualties reported in the clashes between both sides as Misrata brigades retreated out of the town.

“When local fighters started combing one of Misrata bases, they fired at a container, which was full of ammunition and fireworks, causing  a huge explosion  that was heard all over the town and killed most of the local fighters inside the base.” The local resident added.

Qaraboulli Municipality have called for calm and urged residents to express their anger in peaceful protests.

Qaraboulli is a town some 60km east of Tripoli. The town took slain Gaddafi's side in the 2011 revolution. After the liberation, the town was controlled by brigades from Misrata.

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