Over a thousand prisoners escaped from a prison near Benghazi on Saturday after a massive riot inside the Koyfiya prison.  The riot and escape occurred on the same day as larger protests occurred throughout Libya, although government officials are not certain if the two incidents are related or if the prisoners received outside assistance.

CBS News reported that "gunmen outside of the prison fired into the air as inmates began setting fires, suggesting the jailbreak was preplanned." The prisoners at the Koyfiya prison were facing or convicted of serious charges, according to prison officials.

Only 18 prisoners were re-captured by Libyan special forces following the jailbreak. Three prisoners were injured during the escape and were taken to a local hospital.  

Meanwhile, hundreds of Libyans gathered in Benghazi and Tripoli to denounce the killing of activist and lawyer Abdul-Salam Al-Musmari, a vocal opponent to the Muslim Brotherhood, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Benghazi. Tire fires were set in the street and protesters demanded that Islamist parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, be disbanded.  

Protesters stormed the headquarters of a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated political party and an Islamist party in Tripoli and Benghazi.  The headquarters of the liberal National Forces Alliance (NFA) was also attacked and ransacked.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan said that an investigation would be launched into Al-Musmari's death. Human Rights Watch has also urged the Libyan government to conduct a "prompt and thorough investigation" into the killing.

Security within Libya has continued to be a precarious situation following the 2011 uprising against then-president Gaddafi. Libya's weak central government and rule of law has been able to control the protests and violence.  Local militias have grown in power and are now stronger than the military and security forces in many areas.

In 2012, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three others were killed in an attack on the Benghazi consulate compound.

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