Magariaf: Attacks were “preplanned, premeditated”, linked to Al-Qaeda
In a CBS Face the Nation interview by Bob Scheiffer with Mohamed el-Magariaf, President of Libya’s General National Congress, el-Magariaf said that there was “no doubt” that the attack was “preplanned, predetermined.”
SCHIEFFER: Was this a long-planned attack, as far as you know? Or what– what do you know about that?
EL-MAGARIAF: The way these perpetrators acted and moved, I think we– and they’re choosing the specific date for this so-called demonstration, I think we have no– this leaves us with no doubt that this has preplanned, determined– predetermined.
SCHIEFFER: And you believe that this was the work of al Qaeda and you believe that it was led by foreigners. Is that– is that what you are telling us?
EL-MAGARIAF: It was planned– definitely, it was planned by foreigners, by people who– who entered the country a few months ago, and they were planning this criminal act since their– since their arrival.
El-Magariaf also said that those who had been arrested in connection with the attack were “affiliates and maybe sympathizers” of al Qaeda.[1. Face The Nation – Face the Nation” transcripts, September 16, 2012: Libyan Pres. Magariaf, Amb. Rice and Sen. McCain http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460_162-57513819/face-the-nation-transcripts-september-16-2012-libyan-pres-magariaf-amb-rice-and-sen-mccain/]