Victims of sexual assault by Libyan soldiers at Bassingbourn Barracks sue MoD for negligence

A man raped by two Libyan soldiers based at Bassingbourn Barracks is suing the Ministry of Defence for compensation.

The victim is claiming compensation for negligence and breach of human rights following the attack in Cambridge City Centre in October 2014.

Another woman is suing in relation to a sexual assault on the same night.

Mukhtar Ali Saad Mahmoud, 33, and Ibrahim A Abugtila, 22, saw their victim in the city centre at around 3.30am, then followed him to Christ’s Pieces where they both raped him. The men were sentenced to 12 years each for the rape.

In a separate incident, three others – Khaled El Azibi, 19, Ibrahim Naji El Maarfi, aged 21, and Mohammed Abdalsalam, 27, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting women on the same night.

A MoD spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that compensation claims have been received by the department. As the claims are ongoing we are unable to comment further.”

More than 300 trainees arrived at Bassingbourn Barracks in June 2014 as part of an agreement by the British government to help Libya after the collapse of Gaddafi’s regime, but were sent home after the sex attacks.

The MoD faced intense criticism from local people after the assaults for their handling of the situation.