One of the main suspects in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one of the most notorious terrorist incidents against American soldiers abroad, has been detained and transported to the United States for trial, authorities announced Friday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Zubayar al-Bakoush, who allegedly participated in the attack that resulted in the deaths of the US 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 during the news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
One of the members of the Ansar al-Sharia militant formation in Al-Bakoush was arrested abroad and sent to US custody that night.
The federal indictment against him has been unsealed with seven counts including murder, attempted murder, material support for terrorists and arson.
Prosecutors claim that al-Bakoush was one of 20 militants who stormed the gate of the American diplomatic mission, fired the compound that killed Stevens and Smith, and that he was also involved in surveillance of the complex.
A subsequent mortar attack on an adjacent CIA outpost killed Woods and Doherty.
“Time will not stop us from pursuing these predators,” said Pirro, noting that there are still more individuals who committed these acts on the loose.
Another pair of attackers have previously been convicted and sentenced in US courts. Al-Bakoush is scheduled to appear in court in Washington, DC later on Friday.
