Libya’s deputy industry minister has been shot dead during a trip to his hometown of Sirte, according to news agency reports.

Hassan al-Droui was gunned down by unknown assailants near a central market.

It is the first assassination of a member of the transitional government since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted from power in 2011.

Sirte was the site of the final battle of Libya’s civil war, during which Gaddafi was captured and killed while trying to hide from rebels.