US team to question captured Benghazi suspect

Ahmed Abu Khatallah accused of leading fatal 2012 attack on America’s diplomatic compound in Libya

US president Barack Obama speaks about Benghazi during a visit to Pittsburgh today. The United States said it had captured a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Libya. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
US president Barack Obama speaks about Benghazi during a visit to Pittsburgh today. The United States said it had captured a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Libya. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

An elite American interrogation team will question a suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya following his capture by US special operations forces on Sunday, an official told Reuters today.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not say whether members of the US High Value Detainee Interrogation Group were already in place to question Ahmed Abu Khatallah, who Reuters has reported is being held aboard a ship.

The inter-agency unit was created in 2009 and is housed in the FBI’s National Security Branch. The group specialises in garnering information from suspects to prevent planned terror attacks.

President Barack Obama said today that Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the suspected ringleader of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound, was being transported to the United States after his capture on Sunday.

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"I say that first of all because we continue to think about and pray for the families of those who were killed during that terrible attack," Mr Obama said during an event in Pennsylvania.

“But more importantly ... for us to send a message to the world that when Americans are attacked, no matter how long it takes, we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice.”

Reuters