A car bomb exploded just outside the French Embassy in Tripoli early Tuesday morning , injuring two French security guards and a Libyan girl , officials said . The blast was so powerful it blew the front wall off the embassy . Homes can cars adjacent to the embassy sustained heavy damage , and the windows of nearby buildings in this upscale , largely residential neighborhood were also blown out . During a visit to the area , Deputy Prime Minister Awad Barasi said a 13-year-old girl in a nearby house was injured in the attack and will be taken to Tunisia for treatment . Barasi , who condemned the attack , said he had spoken with the French ambassador to Libya , who assured him he will not leave Tripoli . The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack . `` In conjunction with the Libyan authorities , our government departments will make every effort to ensure that all light be shed on the circumstances of this heinous act and its perpetrators quickly identified , '' the foreign ministry said . Barasi told CNN it was too early to `` jump into conclusions '' about who might have carried out the attack . A criminal investigation is under way to try to determine who was behind the attack and why . At least four French investigators were at the scene with what appeared to be forensic equipment gathering evidence . They seemed to be leading the investigation and working with Libyan officials from the Criminal Investigations Division . Libya 's Interior Minister Ashour Shuail , who visited the site along with the country 's justice minister , said one of the two French security guards had undergone a surgery in Tripoli and was now in stable condition . He would not say who the government believes is behind the attack and said the investigation would reveal that . The minister said security will be increased around diplomatic missions in the capital . Responding to questions about lax security , Shuail said no country is immune to this sort of security breach , not even the United States , referencing last week 's Boston Marathon bombings . Residents in the area complained about lax security at the French Embassy . While there has been no claim of responsibility , Libyans at the scene blamed extremist groups . `` We have to admit they exist here in Libya , '' said Mustafa , who was in a nearby house . `` They are small groups , no one likes them or supports them . '' Western intelligence officials have said militants linked to al Qaeda had training camps in Libya . After the French military intervention in Mali in January , there were fears militants could strike French interests in the region , including Libya , which has been struggling to impose security across the country since the 2011 revolution that ousted Moammar Gadhafi . At a news conference , Shuail said he could not link the attack to Mali . He said Libya has to first deal with the widespread weapons in the country . Rami El Obeidi , former intelligence chief during the Libyan revolution , blamed the attack on al Qaeda-linked groups . `` Without a doubt , extremist Jihadi movements aligned to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ( are responsible ) . Same alliance that 's responsible for the attacks on the British , American , and Italian missions in Benghazi , their proven involvement in the Algeria attack , and the logistical support that was given to AQIM elements in Mali , '' El Obeidi said . The French Embassy bombing follows a series of attacks last year that targeted foreign diplomatic missions and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the eastern city of Benghazi . The attacks are believed to be the work of Islamist extremist groups with ties to al Qaeda . Last September , U.S . Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in a militant attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi . According to El Obeidi , Tuesday 's early morning blast was a message to the French government about the capabilities of these groups , rather than a blast that aimed to kill . Residents and embassy staff said the bomb detonated an hour before the area is busy with dozens of Libyans who line up daily to apply for visas . `` This was a political message because the attack was not designed to kill anyone , especially not Libyans , as this would have caused fractures within the extremist movements currently operating inside Libya '' El Obeidi added .
Libyan deputy prime minister : The Americans ambassador said he will not leave Benghazi . four French security guards and a 13-year-old girl are injured . The car bomb destroys the front wall of the embassy and shatters windows nearby . The attack comes 7 months after Two Libyan were killed at a consulate in Benghazi .