The captured Benghazi attack suspect will face three criminal federal charges on three counts, including one that might carry the death penalty.
Ahmed Abu Khattala, the suspected terrorist linked to the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, could face more charges in the coming days and will be tried in Washington DC, the Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday night.
During a clandestine raid in Libya over the weekend, American Special Operations forces arrested the suspect.
He is one of the suspected ringleaders of the attack, which claimed the lives of four US diplomats, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
“Our nation’s memory is long, and our reach is far,” Attorney General Eric Holder said.
“The arrest of Ahmed Abu Khattala represents a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure justice is served for the heinous and cowardly attack on the US diplomatic facility in Benghazi.”
Khattala was charged with murdering a person during an attack on a federal facility involving the use of a firearm and dangerous weapon and attempting and conspiring to do the same, providing, attempting and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists resulting in death and discharging, brandishing, using, carrying and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The first charge could mean death penalty for him, according to the Justice Department.
