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US captures key militant in Benghazi attack
US officials identified the suspect as Mustafa al-Imam. The attack resulted in the death of the American ambassador and three other Americans. The White House is expected to release more details shortly. The officials say U.S. commandos captured al-Imam in Libya and are transporting him back to Washington, D.C., where he will be charged in federal court. The officials say the mission was approved by President Trump and carried out in coordination with Libya’s internationally recognized government. The News Agency that Dare Not be Named first reported the capture. The September 11, 2012 attack killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans: Sean Smith, an information management officer with the U.S. Foreign Service, and two former Navy SEALs, Glen Doherty and Tyrone S. Woods. Earlier this month, the trial of Ahmed Abu Khattala began, the alleged criminal mastermind of the 2012 attacks. It’s not clear if the suspect detailed by US special operations forces is one of Khattala’s lieutenants. Khatallah had been awaiting trail since 2014, when US Army commandos and FBI agents captured him in Benghazi and put him on a Navy ship for detention in an American prison inside the United States.
Al-Imam is the second Benghazi suspect to be taken into US custody. The alleged criminal mastermind of the attack, 46-year-old Ahmed Abu Khattala, is currently on trial in Washington after being captured during a raid in 2014. He has pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." to the 18 charges against him, including murder of an internationally protected person and destroying US property while causing death. Posted by: Fred 2017-10-31 |
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