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United States arrests key suspect linked to 2012 Benghazi attack
The United States has announced the arrest of a man described as a key participant in the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, an assault that claimed the lives of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other American personnel.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the suspect, identified as Zoubayr al-Bakouch, has been transferred to the United States to face prosecution on charges including murder, terrorism-related offenses, and arson.
Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Bondi stated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had apprehended one of the main figures allegedly involved in the deadly assault. She emphasized that the suspect would now stand trial under US law on American soil.
The Department of Justice said the indictment includes eight counts connected to acts of terrorism and violent crimes. FBI Director Kash Patel declined to disclose the location of the arrest, stating only that it took place outside the United States.
The Benghazi attack occurred on September 11, 2012, when armed militants stormed the US consulate in Libya’s second-largest city amid ongoing civil conflict. The attackers set fire to the compound and later targeted a nearby CIA annex, resulting in multiple fatalities.
US authorities allege that al-Bakouch was affiliated with Ansar al-Sharia and was part of a heavily armed group that initiated the first assault on the diplomatic mission.
The attack marked the first time since 1979 that a sitting US ambassador was killed in the line of duty, triggering widespread political debate and long-lasting scrutiny of US diplomatic security policies.
Previous prosecutions related to the Benghazi attack have already resulted in lengthy prison sentences for two Libyan nationals convicted in US courts.