The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel, said that the passage of time does not grant immunity to those involved in the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, stressing that it only delays the moment of accountability.
Patel was commenting on the arrest of Al-Zubair Al-Bakoush, who is accused of involvement in the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. In a post on the social media platform X following the arrest, Patel said the operation reflected Washington’s continued determination to pursue those responsible for the assault, adding that the Benghazi case “has not been forgotten.”
He described the arrest as a pivotal development, noting that an individual he referred to as the “third co-conspirator” is now in US custody. Patel also said that Donald Trump has not forgotten the four Americans killed in the attack, calling the day of the arrest a historic milestone in the long-running legal efforts linked to the case.
The FBI director revealed that he was present at a Virginia airport in the early hours of the morning when Al-Bakoush was transferred following the completion of the operation. He said the arrest was made possible through the allocation of resources and clear directives aimed at delivering justice.
In the same context, US Attorney General Pam Bondi announced during a press conference that Al-Bakoush had been arrested and transferred to the United States to face charges including murder, arson, and terrorism-related offences. She confirmed that the FBI carried out the arrest and said the suspect arrived at Joint Base Andrews at around 3 a.m. on Friday, where he was placed in custody, according to Reuters.
The Benghazi attack dates back to September 11, 2012, when the US diplomatic mission in the eastern Libyan city came under assault, resulting in the death of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. A nearby facility used by the Central Intelligence Agency was also targeted during the attack.
