A man is treated in Misurata after the explosion (Picture: Reuters)

At least 60 police officers have been killed after a truck bomb was detonated near a recruitment centre in Zliten, Libya.

The bombing was one of the deadliest since Islamist militants started expanding their presence in the chaos that followed the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack which left another 200 people injured.

Mayor Miftah Hamadi said the bomb detonated as recruits were gathering at the police centre in Zliten, a coastal town between the capital Tripoli and the port of Misrata.


MORE: Officers in Paris gun down man ‘trying to get into police station’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

The bomb killed at least 65 people (Picture: Reuters)

It is one of the deadliest attacks on the country since Gaddafi was ousted (Picture: Reuters)

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

MORE: Saudi warplanes ‘deliberately’ hit Iranian embassy in Yemen air raid



MORE: At least 65 police officers killed in massive truck bomb at recruitment centre

Witnesses said residents were ferrying victims to Misrata hospitals in ambulances and cars, many with shrapnel wounds. Medical sources said 65 people had been killed, including some civilians, though one official said between 50 and 60 had died.

Since the NATO-backed revolt ousted Gaddafi, Libya has slipped deeper into turmoil with two rival governments and a range of armed factions locked in a struggle for control of the North African state and its oil wealth.

Many residents took people to hospital in the back of their cars (Picture: Reuters)

In the chaos, Islamic State militants have grown in strength, taking over the city of Sirte and launching attacks on oilfields. Islamic State fighters this week attacked two major oil export terminals.

In February last year, three car bombs hit the eastern Libyan city of Qubbah, killing 40 people in what officials described as a revenge attack for Egyptian air strikes on Islamist militant targets.