The coastal city of Derna has become the first city outside Iraq and Syria to join the "caliphate" announced by the extremist group Islamic State, according to media reports.
Associated Press reports that the city has seen religious courts ordering killings in public, floggings of residents accused of violating sharia, as well as enforced segregation of male and female students.
A new Islamic State commander now leads the city, identified as Mohammed Abdullah, a little-known Yemeni militant sent from Syria and known as Abu al-Baraa al-Azdi, according to several local activists and a former militant from Derna.
(Sources: Associated Press, ANSAmed)
(Terrorism image via Shutterstock)
