2012 Benghazi Consulate Attack: The United States on Friday detained Zubayar al-Bakoush, who is suspected of playing a central role in the 2012 attack on its consulate in Benghazi, Libya, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
The US attorney general said Zubayar al-Bakoush had been extradited to the United States and would face charges of murder, arson and terrorism, Reuters reported.
What happened in the 2012 Benghazi attack?
On September 11, 2012, a group of men stormed the compound of the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya in an attack that killed four Americans. The attack, which was initially believed to be a spontaneous response to the protests, was later identified as a deliberate attack carried out by some people linked to al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, a Reuters report said.
The criminal case against al-Bakoush was first opened during the Obama administration in 2015 and has been sealed for more than a decade. The announcement was made Friday by Bondi, District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel, who all praised the work of law enforcement agents.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Zubayr al-Bakoush landed at Joint Base Andrews at 3 a.m. (local time) on Friday and will be tried in federal court in the District of Columbia. Officials did not provide any details on how long the key suspect would be in custody or where he was being held, NBC News reported.
Who is Zubayr al-Bakoush?
– Al-Bakoush is the third person to face criminal charges in connection with the attack.
– According to ABC News, a suspect is accused of murdering Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others.
“Bakoush faces an eight-count indictment that includes murder, attempted murder, arson and conspiracy to support terrorists,” Pirro said.
Two others facing criminal charges in connection with the attack are Ahmed Abu Khatallah and Mustafa al-Imam. Both are serving long prison terms, while another suspect, Ali Awni al-Harzi, was killed in an airstrike in Iraq in 2015.
After the attack, Republicans strongly criticized the response of then-President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, questioning both the administration, who was responsible, and the level of security on the US campus. The episode triggered six separate investigations by House Republicans into how the Obama administration handled the attack.
House Republicans have opened six investigations into the Obama administration’s handling of the episode.
