A protester reacts as the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during a protest by an armed group said to have been protesting a film being produced in the United States September 11, 2012. An American staff member of the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi has died following fierce clashes at the compound, Libyan security sources said on Wednesday. Armed gunmen attacked the compound on Tuesday evening, clashing with Libyan security forces before the latter withdrew as they came under heavy fire. REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori (LIBYA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
(Washington, DC) – U.S. authorities have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the deadly 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi announced Friday that Zubayar al-Bakoush has been extradited to the United States and will face federal charges including murder, arson, and terrorism-related offenses.
“The FBI has arrested one of the key participants behind the Benghazi attack,” Bondi said at a news conference. “Zubayar al-Bakoush arrived at Andrews Air Force Base at approximately 3 a.m. this morning and is now in our custody.”
The September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. While the incident was initially believed to have stemmed from spontaneous unrest, later investigations concluded it was a planned terrorist assault carried out by extremist groups, some linked to al Qaeda.
Two other individuals involved in the attack have already been convicted and sentenced in U.S. courts.
The Benghazi attack became emblematic of Libya’s instability following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi and fueled years of political controversy in the United States. Congressional investigations into the incident often clashed with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the issue remained prominent during her 2016 presidential campaign.
Bondi said the arrest reflects the Justice Department’s continued pursuit of accountability, even more than a decade after the attack.
The case represents a major development in the long-running investigation into the 2012 Benghazi consulate attack, which has remained one of the most scrutinized incidents in modern U.S. diplomatic history.
