The United States captures a “key participant” in the terrorist attack on the Benghazi consulate in 2012 in Libya

He died in this assault the United States ambassadorChristopher Stevens, along with State Department employee Sean Smith and two Navy Seals, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.

“We have never forgotten those heroes and we have never stopped seeking justice for this crime against our nation,” Bondi stressed.

The detainee, called Zubayar Al-Bakoushlanded in Virginia, United States, this Friday morning on a flight that departed from Misrata, as reported by Bondi

The accused faces several charges including murder, attempted murder, terrorism and arson.

Bakoush was already accused eleven years ago of the attack on the Benghazi consulate, but the case remained secret until his arrest this week, according to federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro.

The Benghazi attack

The assault on the American consulate in Benghazi occurred on the night of September 11, 2012, in the eleventh anniversary of 9/11when a group of armed men broke into and set fire to the diplomatic complex in that city in eastern Libya.

The attack, which killed four Americans, began with gunmen who surrounded the consulate and threw rocket-propelled grenades and other heavy weapons against buildings, causing fires that trapped personnel inside.

He American ambassador died of asphyxiation due to smoke inhalationor after being trapped in the burning building.

As personnel attempted to evacuate to an adjacent CIA facility, the attackers continued shooting and later ambushed U.S. security forces arriving from Tripoli to evacuate about 32 diplomats.

Regarding how many attackers participated, the sources speak of “a group of armed men” or “militias”, without offering a final official figure, although it is estimated that there were several dozen linked to local Islamist militias.

At least four assailants died in the confrontation, and It is estimated that around ten members of the Libyan Army also died.which illustrates the magnitude of the attack and the confusion in the control of the area.

There were no casualties among American civilians beyond the four dead diplomatic and security personnel.

Ahmed Abu Khattalaa Libyan identified by the United States as one of the ringleaders of the attack, was captured by US special forces in June 2014 in Libya and transferred to the United States.

Khattala He was sentenced in 2018 to 22 years in prison on charges related to terrorism and his role in the attack, although he was not convicted of direct murder of US personnel.