US Attorney General Announces Arrest of Key Participant in 2012 Benghazi Attack

US Attorney General Pam Bondi Announces Arrest of Suspect in 2012 Benghazi Attack

A suspect has been arrested and extradited to the United States in connection with the 2012 attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Zubayr al-Bakoush is facing charges related to the killing of four US citizens, including US Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Al-Bakoush was taken into custody overseas and will face murder, arson, and terrorism-related charges. The US Attorney General stated that the suspect had been charged with the murder of Stevens and another State Department employee, Sean Smith, as well as the attempted murder of a State Department special agent.

The attack on the embassy in Benghazi occurred during widespread violence in Libya following the overthrow and killing of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Two other US government personnel, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, were also killed in the incident.

Another man, Ahmed Abu Khatallah, had previously been convicted in the US in connection with the attack and is currently serving a 28-year sentence. Libyan national Mustafa al-Imam was also convicted in 2020 for his role in the attack, but was not directly charged with the killings.

The arrest of al-Bakoush comes after years of investigation into the incident. The FBI Director stated that the agency had conducted a foreign transfer of custody, but gave few details on how, when, or where al-Bakoush was arrested. The announcement was made just days after Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi, was confirmed killed.

The case is being prosecuted by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro and will be handled to the fullest extent of the law.

Source: Al Jazeera