US captures key Benghazi attack suspect

WASHINGTON 

The U.S. has captured one of the main suspects behind the September 11, 2012, attack on its consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday.

The U.S. military captured Ahmed Abu Khatallah on Sunday. He is currently being held at a secure location outside of Libya, Pentagon's press secretary John Kirby said in a press statement.

The U.S. State Department designated Abu Khatallah as a global terrorist on January 10, saying that he is a “senior leader” of the Benghazi branch of Ansar al-Shari’a, a militant group with ties to the attacks on the U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi.

The 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi led to the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and State Department official Sean Smith. Two CIA contractors – Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty – were killed at a neighboring CIA annex.

“With this operation, the United States has once again demonstrated that we will do whatever it takes to see that justice is done when people harm Americans,” U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement released to the press. “We will continue our efforts to bring to justice those who were responsible for the Benghazi attacks.”

Following his capture by U.S. forces, Abu Khatallah now faces the "full weight" of the U.S. justice system, Obama said. Abu Khatallah now faces criminal charges on three counts with the possibility of additional charges, according to Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney General.

"Even as we begin the process of putting Khatallah on trial and seeking his conviction before a jury, our investigation will remain ongoing as we work to identify and arrest any co-conspirators," said Holder.

The operation that led to the capture of Abu Khatallah resulted in no civilian casualties, and all U.S. forces involved have safely left Libya, according to Kirby.

The Washington Post initially reported the capture of Abu Khatallah.

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