Libyan war crimes suspect arrested in Germany under ICC warrant

A Libyan man suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity has been arrested in Germany on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, commonly known as “Al-Buti”, is alleged to have been one of the most senior officials at the Mitiga Prison complex in the capital, Tripoli, where thousands of people were detained.

He is suspected of having committed, ordered or overseen crimes including murder, torture and rape.

The atrocities were allegedly committed in the detention unit near Tripoli in the five years from 2015. There is no record of him commenting on the allegations.

The ICC has issued 11 arrest warrants in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Libya since the ousting and killing of the country’s long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, which plunged Libya into civil war.

The situation was referred to the court by the United Nations Security Council in February 2011, at the start of the protests which led to Gaddafi’s ousting later that year, with the help of Nato forces.

In its referral, the Security Council condemned the “violence and use of force against civilians… the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators”.

It also expressed “deep concern at the deaths of civilians”, while “rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government”, then under Gaddafi.

Since the overthrow of Gaddafi, after six decades in power, Libya has been split into areas controlled by various militias and is currently divided between two rival governments.

Mr Hishri was part of the Special Deterrence Force, also known as SDF/Rada, aligned to the interior ministry of the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli.

On 12 May 2025, Libya accepted the ICC’s jurisdiction over its territory from 2011 to the end of 2027.

Eight other public ICC arrest warrants are still pending in connection with the violence that followed the fall of Gaddafi.

Earlier this year, Italy controversially released Osama Najim – also known as Almasri – who was allegedly the director of the Mitiga detention centre.

Amnesty International says Mitiga Prison was the scene of “horrific violations committed with total impunity”.

Some of those kept in Mitiga are migrants trying to reach Europe.

Mr Najim was freed due to a legal technicality, according to sources in Italy’s interior ministry.

The ICC said Mr Najim had been released by Italy “without prior notice or consultation with the Court” and issued another arrest warrant for him. He remains a fugitive.

Mr Hishri will remain in detention in Germany until arrangements are made for him to be surrendered to the ICC’s custody and extradited to face justice in The Hague.

The ICC thanked “all the victims and witnesses from Libya who have stepped forward to cooperate in the investigation. Their strength, courage and commitment make these important developments possible.”

Mr Hishri’s case will join others in the court’s ongoing efforts to address crimes committed during Libya’s conflict, though other suspects remain at large.