Tripoli Security Directorate (TSD) said it had arrested two persons accused of involvement in several cases of robbery, most notably the theft of two antique bells from the historic Saint Mary's Church in Tripoli’s old town.

On its Facebook page, the TSD stated that the arrest operation was carried out on Friday, clarifying that it had managed to recover one of the two bells, while the search continues for the other missing one.

The Directorate has issued circulars to shop owners and coppersmiths not to buy any products suspected of theft, asking them for their cooperation with the authorities to reduce the threats of theft and robbery.

Saint Mary's Church of Tripoli was built in 1615 and was closed down in 1970 after the evacuation of Italian nationals from Libya.