- Zubayr Al-Bakoush has been arrested and is in U.S. custody for the 2012 Benghazi attack.
- The attack killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans during a coordinated assault.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed prosecutors will pursue arson, murder, and terrorism charges against Al-Bakoush.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Zubayr Al-Bakoush has been arrested and is now in U.S. custody in connection with the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, Justice Department officials announced Friday. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Al-Bakoush arrived at Andrews Air Force Base at about 3 a.m. and will be prosecuted on arson, murder, and terrorism charges.
Arrival in the United States and Federal Prosecution
Bondi told reporters at Justice Department headquarters that Al-Bakoush was received by FBI Director Kash Patel and D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Bondi said prosecutors intend to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law, while Pirro said her office will continue efforts to locate other alleged participants who remain at large.
2012 Benghazi Attack Killed Four Americans
The September 11, 2012, assault on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department official Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, according to the officials’ account shared Friday.
Officials said the attack involved militants storming the compound and setting it on fire, along with mortar fire directed at a nearby CIA facility during what they described as a coordinated assault. Stevens and Smith died inside the compound, while Doherty and Woods were killed while defending the nearby site.
Debate Over the Immediate Aftermath
The announcement also revisited public statements made in the days following the attack. Obama administration officials initially suggested the incident was connected to protests over an anti-Muslim video circulating online at the time. A House committee investigation later concluded that officials failed to deploy military assets to Libya, and stated that diplomatic security agents in Benghazi did not attribute the attack to a “video” or “protest,” even as those terms were used publicly.
Bondi referenced a 2013 congressional exchange in which then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to questions about the incident with the statement, “What difference, at this point, does it make?” Bondi said the case continues to matter to the families of those killed and to law enforcement.
Officials Say Additional Suspects Remain at Large
Patel said he worked on the Benghazi matter earlier in his career and described the arrest as a significant step in the long-running case. Pirro said the investigation into other alleged participants is ongoing.
Prior Benghazi Case Resulted in Federal Conviction
Officials also referenced a prior arrest tied to the attack. In October 2017, Mustafa al-Imam, another suspect, was captured by U.S. forces in Libya and later convicted on federal terrorism charges. He was sentenced to 19 years and eight months in prison, according to the officials’ recap.
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