One of the main suspects in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one of the most notorious terrorist incidents targeting U.S. troops overseas, has been apprehended and transported to the United States for trial, authorities said Friday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Zubayar al-Bakoush, accused of participating in the attack that resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans, including Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, on September 11, 2012.
“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Bondi said at the news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
One of the members of the Ansar al-Sharia militant outfit in al-Bakoush was arrested abroad and taken into US custody overnight.
The federal indictment against him is unsealed and charges seven counts, including murder, attempted murder, providing material support to terrorists and arson.
Prosecutors say al-Bakoush was one of about 20 militants who broke into the gate of the U.S. diplomatic mission, fired into the compound, killing Stevens and Smith, and that he was also involved in surveillance of the compound.
A subsequent mortar strike against an adjacent CIA outpost killed Woods and Doherty.
“Time will not stop us from pursuing these predators,” Pirro said, noting that more individuals who committed these acts remain at large.
Two other attackers have already been convicted and sentenced in American courts. Al-Bakoush is next scheduled to appear in court in Washington, D.C., later Friday.
