WASHINGTON — One of the architects of the 2012 attack at a US embassy in Benghazi, Libya, has been arrested and will be brought to justice, Trump administration officials announced Friday.
“Today, I’m proud to announce that the FBI has arrested one of the key participants behind the Benghazi attack,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said at a news conference in DOJ headquarters.
“Zubayr Al-Bakoush landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 3 a.m. this morning. He is in our custody. He was greeted by [FBI] Director [Kash] Patel and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro,” she added.
🚨 BREAKING: Zubayr Al-Bakoush, suspect in deadly 2012 Benghazi terror attack on US compound, captured and extradited to face charges in US, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announce pic.twitter.com/OB6HhtuuZd
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“We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law. He’ll face charges related to murder, terrorism, arson, among others. Let this case serve as a reminder. If you commit a crime against the American people, anywhere in this world. President Trump’s Justice Department will find you. It might not happen overnight, but it will happen. You can run, but you cannot hide.”
The Sept. 11, 2012, assault at the diplomatic compound took the lives of four Americans, including then-Ambassador Chris Stevens, State Department official Sean Smith and two CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.
“Hillary Clinton famously once said about Benghazi. What difference at this point does it make? Well, it makes a difference to Donald Trump. It makes a difference to those families,” Bondi added. “And 14 years later, it makes a difference to law enforcement.”
