TRIPOLI, Libya, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Seven alleged gang members were killed in a shootout with police after they were caught in the middle of an attempted robbery in Tripoli, Libya, officials said.
The incident happened Sunday night as the suspects were allegedly robbing a person in a car at gunpoint, the Libya Herald reported.
"The incident turned bloody when some of the armed assailants tried to provide support to each other. We had no choice but to defend ourselves. We did not intend to kill them. They left us no choice because they started shooting at us, plus we would not allow them to get away and we could not abandon the citizen who had been robbed and who was full of fear," said a statement from the Joint Security Team.
A shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of the seven suspects.
It was unclear whether there were others involved in the alleged robbery
