A suspect described as a “key participant” in the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, has been taken into American custody, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced.
The suspect, Zubayr Al-Bakoush, arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who disclosed the development during a news conference.
Al-Bakoush faces an eight-count indictment, including two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and State Department information technology specialist Sean Smith.
Bondi said the United States would continue pursuing other suspects linked to the attack, warning that accountability may take time but remains inevitable. “You can run, but you cannot hide,” she said.
The news conference was attended by FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Patel said Al-Bakoush arrived at the Maryland military base at about 3:00 a.m. EST and described the operation as a coordinated interagency effort involving U.S. partners overseas.
According to Patel, the operation deployed special tactical assets, including FBI agents and medical personnel, underscoring the complexity of the apprehension and transfer process.
Pirro said Al-Bakoush was first charged in 2015 and that the indictment against him was recently unsealed. In addition to the murder charges, the indictment includes counts of attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, resulting in the deaths of four Americans.
Alongside Stevens and Smith, former U.S. Navy SEALs and security contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were also killed during the September 11, 2012, attack.
The Benghazi attack became a major political issue during the administration of former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with Republicans criticizing the government’s response and security arrangements at the facility.
Two other individuals have previously been convicted in connection with the attack. Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khattala was sentenced to prison in 2017, while Mustafa al-Imam received a sentence of more than 19 years in 2019.
