Benghazi Attack Suspect Captured by US Forces in Libya
U.S. forces captured the suspected ringleader from the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack in Libya this past weekend, an official with the Obama administration told reporters Tuesday.
Ahmed Abu Khattala, the alleged ringleader in the 2012 consulate attack that killed four Americans, was captured on Sunday near Benghazi by U.S. Special Operations forces that included the FBI and American troops. Although officials with the administration remain secretive regarding Khattala's current whereabouts, they have confirmed to multiple media outlets that the suspect is currently en route to the United States to face trial.
The U.S. previously charged Khattala with "killing a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility involving use of a firearm," conspiring and providing material aid to terrorists, and possessing a firearm during a violent crime. Khattala is the commander of the country's Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia that rose to prominence after the fall of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.
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Although Khattala has previously told U.S. media outlets that he was not a ringleader during the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, the U.S. has continued to argue that Khattala had a lead role in the attack.
President Barack Obama released a statement Tuesday regarding Khattala's capture, saying that "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."
As Fox News points out, Sunday's successful mission marks the first capture of a suspect related to the 2012 consulate attack. The Obama administration has received significant criticism by those who argue it has not done enough to find the suspects responsible for the 2012 attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, State Department official Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.
Several Republican politicians have responded positively to Khattala's capture, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeting that he was "very pleased" with the successful mission, adding that Khattala should be held at Guantanamo Bay as a "potential enemy combatant." Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said in a statement that she thinks it is more imperative for the U.S. to interrogate Khattala than read him his Miranda Rights.
"I am pleased that Khattala is finally in U.S. custody, and I am grateful for the military, intelligence, and law enforcement professionals who helped capture him," Ayotte said in the statement, according to Fox News.
"Rather than rushing to read him his Miranda rights and telling him he has the right to remain silent, I hope the administration will focus on collecting the intelligence necessary to prevent future attacks and to find other terrorists responsible for the Benghazi attacks."
