Libyan officials say gunmen have assassinated the security chief of the eastern city of Benghazi.

Officials said Wednesday Farag al-Dersi was shot dead overnight while returning home from work.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Benghazi has witnessed many assassinations and car bombs over the past months that mainly have targeted security officials who worked during the reign of ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The city is also where U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an hours-long assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11. Officials suspect Islamic extremists were behind that attack.