abu khattala mastermind of benghazi attack or simple onlooker
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Abu Khattala, mastermind of Benghazi attack or simple onlooker?

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Abu Khattala, mastermind of Benghazi attack or simple onlooker?

A plaque commemorating US ambassador Christopher Stevens
Washington - Al Maghrib Today

A Libyan man accused of masterminding the 2012 attack in Benghazi that killed a US ambassador and three of his staff went on trial in Washington on Monday, although his lawyers said he was simply a witness to the deadly events.

Sporting a white shirt and a long beard, Ahmed Abu Khattala, 46, sat beside his lawyers in court listening to an Arabic translation of the proceedings through a headset.

The surprise attack on the US diplomatic mission in the eastern Libyan port city on September 11, 2012, and the mortar attack on a nearby CIA annex that followed shortly after, left four Americans dead, including Christopher Stevens, the first US ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979.

"John Christopher Stevens choked to death by thick black smoke," said John Crabb, representing the US government as he related the events of that evening in Benghazi: around 20 armed men attacked the US diplomatic mission, setting fire to the building where Stevens and a foreign service officer, Sean Smith, had taken refuge. Both men died of asphyxiation.

The group later fired mortar rounds at a building used by the CIA, killing Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, two former members of the elite Navy Seals.

- 'Out of Libya' -

Addressing the jury that is expected to hear the case over a course of several weeks, Crabb accused Abu Khattala of masterminding the attack out of a burning hatred for America.

"This is a case about Abu Khattala hating America so much and wanting America out of Libya so badly," the prosecutor said.

"Abu Khattala didn't do the killing by himself, he didn't light the fire and he didn't fire the mortars," Crabb said, pointing to a plan of the compound and showing surveillance photos and film in which the accused appeared but was not  seen firing weapons or acting in a hostile manner.

"Abu Khattala planned the attack, set the attack in motion," Crabb said.

The Libyan submitted a plea of not guilty to 18 charges that included murder and providing material support to terrorists, and which could see him facing life behind bars.

"It was a tragedy: four Americans died in the service of their country," said defense counsel Jeffrey Robinson. "But Abu Khattala is not the person responsible for this tragedy." 

Robinson categorically denied the charges, calling his client a "Libyan patriot" who had "fought on the side of America" during the uprising the previous year against longtime Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

On the day of the attacks, he said Abu Khattala heard about the attack on the US mission and "went to see what was going on."

With the stricken Americans already having evacuated the building, "he walked in and he walked out. The gate was open, the Americans had left," the lawyer said.

- Test trial -

Just a few years ago, a man like Abu Khattala would likely have been transferred directly to the US base at Guantanamo Bay where he would have faced a military tribunal. 

His trial will act as a test case for foreign suspects captured by US commandos in combat conditions and brought back to face civil courts in the United States. 

After the attack, Abu Khattala did not hide from public view, but continued living in Benghazi, even giving press interviews in which he admitted to being present at the US mission the night of the attack. 

He was captured in 2014 when US special forces carried out a commando raid based on intelligence provided by a friend of the accused, who received a $7 million reward from the US government.

Abu Khattala, who had allegedly commanded an Islamist militia called Ansar al-Sharia, was whisked off to a US Navy ship where he was first subjected to a CIA-style interrogation -- in secret, and with the contents classified  -- before being questioned by FBI agents who informed him of his legal rights.

The ship took 13 days to return to the United States, its slow progress being blamed on engine problems. The defense team said the return had been delayed for as long as possible to prevent their client having access to an attorney.

Robinson said the FBI "deliberately chose not to record these statements" made during the passage back to the US.

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

abu khattala mastermind of benghazi attack or simple onlooker abu khattala mastermind of benghazi attack or simple onlooker

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

abu khattala mastermind of benghazi attack or simple onlooker abu khattala mastermind of benghazi attack or simple onlooker

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today The Rake announces editorial updates

GMT 10:46 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The Rake announces editorial updates
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Europe brings on charm and blue skies

GMT 11:51 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe brings on charm and blue skies
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today For the Variety of Interior Design Styles

GMT 10:46 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

For the Variety of Interior Design Styles
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today US Christian tourists see deep meaning

GMT 13:44 2018 Monday ,22 January

US Christian tourists see deep meaning
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 10:03 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Amazon to open first cashierless shop

GMT 14:51 2017 Thursday ,27 April

Heba El Masry wants her dishes in every house

GMT 10:25 2018 Sunday ,21 January

One dead as accident mars fourth leg

GMT 11:28 2017 Saturday ,14 October

Squeeze on UK health gives advanced

GMT 18:01 2017 Tuesday ,10 October

Sahar underlines importance of mountainous tourism

GMT 15:14 2017 Tuesday ,12 September

In Syria, Israel intervenes at its peril

GMT 10:39 2017 Thursday ,16 November

Boeing announces $27bn from flydubai

GMT 19:35 2014 Saturday ,13 September

7 senior Brotherhood figures asked to leave Qatar

GMT 12:45 2012 Monday ,24 December

Sudan welcomes John Kerry\'s nomination

GMT 09:13 2014 Monday ,27 January

Marrakech Film Festival celebrates Japanese cinema

GMT 11:13 2016 Friday ,11 March

Probe Daesh identity leak reports

GMT 15:21 2014 Tuesday ,16 September

Beyonce and Jay Z release short film 'Bang Bang: Part 1'

GMT 08:42 2011 Monday ,12 September

Knightley glows in Elie Saab

GMT 08:00 2011 Friday ,30 September

Hurley stuns at cancer event

GMT 19:48 2017 Wednesday ,08 March

Muscat bourse recovers on scatted support

GMT 12:43 2011 Monday ,11 July

Qatar 2022 bribery was all a lie

GMT 11:08 2016 Friday ,15 April

Won't attend Doha output freeze talks

GMT 17:49 2015 Monday ,02 March

Qatar's FM meets UNODC executive director

GMT 14:07 2011 Tuesday ,22 November

2013 McLaren \"Mega Mac\"

GMT 14:54 2012 Tuesday ,10 April

Sony Pictures to invest in India’s MAA TV
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday