Key participant in 2012 Benghazi attack that killed 4 Americans taken into U.S. custody

A key man in the 2012 Benghazi attack has been caught and is now in U.S. custody, said the Justice Department. His name is Zubayr Al-Bakoush. He will go to court for the deaths of four Americans. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Al-Bakoush came to the U.S. early Friday morning. His plane landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 3 a.m. Bondi said, “We have never stopped looking for justice for this crime.”

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Al-Bakoush faces an eight-count indictment in federal court. The charges include the murders of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith. Officials said it is not yet clear whether Al-Bakoush has a lawyer representing him, as reported by Associated Press.

Benghazi attack details

The Benghazi attack happened on the night of September 11, 2012, in Libya at a U.S. diplomatic building. Around 20 armed men with guns and grenades broke in. They set the buildings on fire, and Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith were killed. Other U.S. personnel escaped to a nearby U.S. facility called the annex after the first attack.


Militants later attacked the annex using a precision mortar attack, officials said. That second attack killed U.S. security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. The Benghazi attack quickly became a major political issue in the United States. Republicans questioned the Obama administration about security at the site and the military response, as cited by Associated Press.

Political fallout and investigation

A Republican-led congressional panel later blamed the Obama administration for security failures and slow response. The same report said there was no wrongdoing by then–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton rejected the report, calling it a repeat of earlier investigations with nothing new. Clinton said it was “time to move on” from the Benghazi investigations, as noted by Associated Press. Other Democrats criticized the report and called it “a conspiracy theory on steroids.”

Earlier in 2014 Ahmed Abu Khattala another Benghazi suspect was captured by U.S. special forces. He was brought to Washington, convicted in court, and is now serving a prison sentence. His lawyers argued the evidence against him was weak and said he was targeted for his extreme religious beliefs. With Al-Bakoush now in custody, U.S. officials say the government is continuing its long effort to hold attackers accountable.

FAQs

Q1. Who was arrested in the Benghazi attack case?

Zubayr Al-Bakoush was arrested and brought to the U.S. to face charges linked to the 2012 Benghazi attack.

Q2. How many Americans died in the Benghazi attack?

Four Americans, including a U.S. ambassador and two security officers, were killed in the attack.