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Captured Benghazi Attack Suspect Arrives in U.S. Captured Benghazi Attack Suspect Arrives in U.S.
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — The Libyan militia leader suspected of playing a key role in the 2012 attacks in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the United States ambassador, arrived in Washington early Saturday, formally opening one of the most complicated terrorism cases the Justice Department has mounted in recent years, officials said. WASHINGTON — The Libyan militia leader suspected of playing a central role in the 2012 attacks in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the United States ambassador, arrived in Washington early on Saturday, officials said, formally opening one of the most complicated terrorism cases the Justice Department has mounted in recent years.
The suspect, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was flown to Washington by helicopter shortly after sunrise from a Navy warship, the New York, where he had been held since his capture in Libya by American Special Operations forces, the officials said. The authorities fingerprinted and photographed him like any other suspect, and he was expected to appear before a magistrate judge as early as Saturday afternoon.The suspect, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was flown to Washington by helicopter shortly after sunrise from a Navy warship, the New York, where he had been held since his capture in Libya by American Special Operations forces, the officials said. The authorities fingerprinted and photographed him like any other suspect, and he was expected to appear before a magistrate judge as early as Saturday afternoon.
The Justice Department has charged Mr. Abu Khattala with three counts in connection with the attacks on the United States Mission in Benghazi and on a nearby C.I.A. facility. Those attacks resulted in the death of the United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens. One count filed against Mr. Abu Khattala contends that he killed a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility. Another says that he provided material support to terrorists. The Justice Department has charged Mr. Abu Khattala with three counts in connection with the attacks on the United States Mission in Benghazi and a nearby C.I.A. facility on Sept. 11, 2012. The attacks resulted in the death of the United States ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens. The counts contend that Mr. Abu Khattala killed a person in the course of an attack on a federal facility, provided material support to terrorists and used a firearm in a violent crime.
The administration’s handling of the case has been criticized for moving too slowly to apprehend suspects, with Democrats and Republicans injecting partisan statements into the debate over proper embassy security and accurate assessments of the militant threat. The Obama administration has been criticized for moving too slowly to apprehend suspects, with Democrats and Republicans injecting partisan statements into the debate over proper embassy security and accurate assessments of militant threats.
By mid-day Saturday, Mr. Abu Khattala was being held under tight security in at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Washington, located about one mile from the White House. Washington is an unusual place for a high-profile terrorist suspect to face charges. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, nearly all such suspected terrorists have been tried in federal courthouses in New York or Alexandria, Va. About a half-dozen F.B.I. agents who had been with Mr. Abu Khattala during his interrogation aboard the ship accompanied him on the trip over the Atlantic Ocean. By midday on Saturday, he was being held under tight security at the federal courthouse in Washington, about a mile from the White House. It was expected that he would be held at a separate facility after his arraignment.
A military helicopter flew Mr. Abu Khattala off the deck of the New York at sunrise Saturday. About a half-dozen F.B.I. agents, who had been with him during his interrogation aboard the ship, accompanied him on the trip over the Atlantic Ocean to Washington. Washington is an unusual place for a high-profile terrorism suspect to face charges. Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, nearly all such suspects have been tried in federal courts in New York or Alexandria, Va.
Once on American soil, Mr. Abu Khattala was fingerprinted and photographed — “processed just like any other suspect,” a senior law enforcement official — and turned over to U.S. Marshals who held him under heavy security at the courthouse. After arraignment, it was expected that he would be held in a jail at a separate facility. Building a case against Mr. Abu Khattala strong enough to hold up in an American court posed several daunting challenges to the F.B.I. and other intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Several dozen F.B.I. agents and analysts in New York and Washington, as well as other field offices, helped build it.
Building a legal case against Mr. Abu Khattala strong enough to hold up in an American court posed several daunting challenges to the F.B.I. and other American intelligence and law enforcement agencies. F.B.I. agents traveled to Libya and Tunisia to take statements from several hundred people who witnessed the attack on the American diplomatic mission or were familiar with militant organizations in Benghazi and eastern Libya, said a senior law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the coming prosecution.
Several dozen F.B.I. agents and analysts in New York and Washington, as well as other field offices, joined in building one of the complicated terrorism cases the Justice Department has mounted in recent years. Hundreds of hours of video from security cameras and other sources were analyzed to produce a video narrative of the time leading up to the attack, the siege of the mission and the C.I.A. annex, and the aftermath, the official said.
F.B.I. agents traveled to Libya and Tunisia to take statements from several hundred eyewitnesses to the attack on the American diplomatic mission, or who were familiar with militant organizations in Benghazi and eastern Libya, according to the senior law enforcement official. While American intelligence agencies were also able to intercept electronic conversations that could help the investigation, their classified nature makes them problematic to use in a public criminal trial, the official said. He said the case had been built and would be presented mainly on eyewitness accounts and video.
Hundreds of hours of video from security cameras and other means were analyzed to produce a video narrative of the time leading up to the attack, the siege itself on the diplomatic mission and the C.I.A. annex nearby, and its aftermath, the law enforcement official said. Several weeks passed after the attacks before American investigators were allowed to enter Benghazi and collect evidence. The case also relies on foreign witnesses who will most likely have to travel to Washington to testify and who may not stand up well to cross-examination.
While American intelligence agencies were also able to collect electronic intercepts of conversations that could assist the investigation, the classified nature of those intercepts makes them problematic to use in a public criminal trial, said the law enforcement official. He said the case was built on and will be presented on mainly eyewitness accounts and video. It was several weeks after the attacks occurred before American investigators were allowed to travel into Benghazi to access the crime scenes and collect evidence. The case also relies on foreign witnesses who likely will have to travel to Washington to testify and may not stand up well to cross-examination. Law enforcement officials said the hostile environment in Libya and the difficulty of tracking down and interviewing all the witnesses were among the reasons the investigation had taken so long, even as reports of Mr. Abu Khattala’s meeting reporters for drinks circulated widely.
Law enforcement officials said the hostile environment in Libya, the difficulty of tracking down and interviewing all the witnesses, were some of the reasons why the investigation took so long — even as public reports of Mr. Abu Khattala meeting with reporters for drinks circulated widely. “It was brutal,” the senior law enforcement official said. “We were dealing with one of the most nonpermissive environments at the time, and our guys were able to put together a case.”
“It was brutal,” said the senior law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the impending prosecution. “We were dealing with one of the most non-permissive environments at the time, and our guys were able to put together a case.”
The official said that prosecutors were prepared to bring witnesses from Libya to Washington to testify against Mr. Abu Khattala. “We have plenty of evidence to convict this guy,” the official said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting him to the courthouse.”The official said that prosecutors were prepared to bring witnesses from Libya to Washington to testify against Mr. Abu Khattala. “We have plenty of evidence to convict this guy,” the official said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting him to the courthouse.”
American commandos captured Mr. Abu Khattala two weeks ago in a raid on a seaside villa outside of Benghazi. He was then taken to the New York in the Mediterranean, where he was questioned by interrogators seeking to learn what he knows about past or planned attacks. American commandos captured Mr. Abu Khattala two weeks ago in a raid on a seaside villa outside Benghazi. He was taken to the New York warship in the Mediterranean, where he was questioned by interrogators seeking to learn what he knew about past or planned attacks.
American officials have said that Mr. Abu Khattala has been “cooperative.” American officials have said that Mr. Abu Khattala has been cooperative.
The New York left the Mediterranean roughly a week ago and eventually will head back to its home port near Jacksonville, Fla. It was sent to the Mediterranean expressly to be part of the mission to capture Mr. Abu Khattala. The ship typically carries four Osprey aircraft and two helicopters, one of which was used for the transfer early Saturday. The ship’s bow was forged with steel from the collapsed World Trade Center towers, and the ship’s motto is “Never Forget.” The New York left the Mediterranean about a week ago and will eventually return to its home port near Jacksonville, Fla. It had been sent to the Mediterranean expressly to be part of the mission to capture Mr. Abu Khattala.
Witnesses to the Benghazi attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, have said that Mr. Abu Khattala directed attackers who were assaulting the United States mission. In interviews with Western media outlets he has provided contradictory statements about his role, but maintained his innocence. The ship typically carries four Osprey aircraft and two helicopters, one of which was used for the transfer on Saturday. Its bow was forged with steel from the World Trade Center towers.
Witnesses to the Benghazi attacks have said Mr. Abu Khattala directed the people who were assaulting the mission. In interviews with Western news outlets, he has provided contradictory statements about his role but maintained his innocence.