TRIPOLI: A car bomb exploded Saturday outside the diplomatic security building in Tripoli but caused no casualties, a Libyan official said, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.

Col. Mubarak Abu Dhaheer, who heads the security department in charge of protecting diplomatic missions, said the blast in central Tripoli caused some damage to the building but that no one was hurt.

“This is a criminal act aimed at undermining security and stability and at targeting policemen tasked with guarding diplomatic missions,” said Abu Dhaheer. The Islamic State said it carried out the bombing, according to the US-based monitoring group SITE Intelligence.

“The provincial division of the IS for Tripoli claimed a car bombing at the diplomatic security building in the capital, and provided a photo of the blast,” SITE said.