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2012 Benghazi Attack

2012 Benghazi Attack115 posts

On September 11, 2012, the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked resulting in the deaths of four U.S. citizens, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

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28 Jun, 2014

Suspect in federal court

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A U.S. official confirms that Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the man accused of masterminding the attack will appear in a federal court in Washington, D.C. today.  Authorities believe Khatallah is one of the senior leaders of Ansar al Sharia, whose members were among several militias that participated in the attack.

Pleads not guilty

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Khatallah, charged in the 2012 Benghazi attacks, pleads not guilty today in connection to the crime, during an appearance before a U.S. federal judge.  Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., says in a written statement:

In a courtroom in our nation’s capital, today we took the first step down the road to justice for the four American heroes killed in Benghazi.  This prosecution is a reflection of our determination to honor the sacrifice of U.S. citizens who perish on foreign soil in service to our country.  We will be steady, deliberate and relentless in seeking to hold accountable all who were responsible for this deadly act of terror.

4 Jul, 2014

Khatallah’s role outlined

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Katallah’s detention motion says that in the days preceding the attack, the defendant “voiced concern and opposition to the presence of an American facility in Benghazi.” According to the motion, a group of 20 or more “armed men,” including militia members, assembled outside the U.S. compound at 9:45 p.m. the night of September 11, 2012, and “aggressively breached” the gate. They carried rifles, handguns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.  After breaching the gate, they stole a U.S. vehicle, “forcibly entered” buildings and stole U.S. property.

During this initial attack, buildings within the Mission were set on fire, and that ultimately led to the deaths” of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and Information Management Officer Sean Smith.