The United States has arrested and extradited Zubayr al-Bakoush, identified by officials as a key participant in the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
The September 11 assault killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, and became one of the most scrutinized security incidents in recent U.S. history.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest on Friday, saying al-Bakoush would face murder, arson, and terrorism-related charges in federal court.
She said, “We will prosecute this alleged terrorist to the fullest extent of the law.”
The arrest marks the latest development in a case that has unfolded over more than a decade amid continuing instability in Libya.
Federal prosecutors said al-Bakoush was originally charged in 2015 under a sealed indictment that remained inactive until his transfer to U.S. custody.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said he faces an eight-count indictment including murder, attempted murder, arson, and conspiracy to support terrorists.
He is accused of involvement in the killings of Ambassador Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith, as well as the attempted murder of a U.S. special agent.
Two other Americans, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, were also killed in the attack, though al-Bakoush was not charged in their deaths.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest occurred overseas through a foreign transfer of custody, without providing further operational details.
The Benghazi attack occurred during a period of widespread violence following the 2011 overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
It later became a focal point for multiple U.S. congressional investigations examining security preparations and the role of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Two other men, Ahmed Abu Khatallah and Mustafa al-Imam, were previously convicted in U.S. courts for their roles in the attack.
The announcement comes as Libya remains divided between rival governments, and days after the confirmed killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, underscoring the country’s ongoing volatility.