Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a suspect named as a "key participant" in the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, is now in U.S. custody, according to a recent announcement from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He was transported to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday, as stated by Attorney General Pam Bondi at a press briefing.
Al-Bakoush faces a total of eight charges, including two counts of murder linked to the fatalities of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith.
During her address, Bondi affirmed the U.S. government's commitment to pursuing other suspects associated with the case, cautioning that while apprehensions might take time, they are inevitable: "You can run, but you cannot hide."
Bondi was joined at the news conference by FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Patel detailed that he and Pirro were present when Al-Bakoush arrived at the Maryland military base at approximately 03:00 EST (08:00 GMT).
He characterized the capture of Al-Bakoush as the result of a collaborative effort among various agencies.
"To orchestrate an apprehension involving foreign custody transfer, no single agency can operate independently," Patel remarked, highlighting the U.S. cooperation with international partners.
Patel noted that the operation utilized "special tactical assets," which included both FBI agents and medical personnel.
Pirro mentioned that Al-Bakoush was originally charged in 2015, and the indictment containing eight charges had recently been unsealed.
This indictment includes two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of arson, and conspiracy to furnish materials to terrorists that resulted in the deaths of four Americans.
In addition to Stevens, among those killed in the attack on September 11, 2012, were Sean Smith, an IT specialist, and two former Navy Seals, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.
The assault on the consulate turned into a controversial subject during the presidency of Barack Obama and the tenure of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as they faced Republican blame for inadequate security and delayed response to the crisis.
Two other individuals have been convicted for their involvement in the attack. In 2017, Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khattala received a prison sentence for his participation in the incident, while in 2019, Mustafa al-Imam, also from Libya, was sentenced to over 19 years in prison.
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