Updated on: February 6, 2026 / 12:05 PM EST / CBS News
Washington — The FBI has arrested a suspect accused of taking part in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday.
“Today, I’m proud to announce that the FBI has arrested one of the key participants behind the Benghazi attack,” Bondi said. “You can run, but you cannot hide.”
Authorities identified the detainee as Zubayar al-Bakoush and said he was transferred to the United States overnight. Bondi made the announcement alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three others — State Department information management officer Sean Smith and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty — were killed when militants associated with Ansar al-Sharia attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA annex on Sept. 11, 2012. Pirro said she notified surviving family members of al-Bakoush’s arrest before the public announcement.
Prosecutors unsealed a 13-page indictment in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., charging al-Bakoush with seven counts, including murder, attempted murder, providing material support to terrorists and arson. He is expected to appear in court later Friday.
The indictment alleges al-Bakoush lived in Benghazi and was a member of Ansar al-Sharia. It says he was among a group of roughly 20 militants who breached the main gate of the U.S. mission, set fires to buildings that killed Stevens and Smith, and that al-Bakoush entered after the fires were set, conducted surveillance and attempted to access vehicles on the compound grounds.
A separate mortar attack on a CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. mission killed Woods and Doherty.
Bondi said the State Department and CIA worked with the FBI to apprehend al-Bakoush. Officials provided few details about how he was located, saying only that he was picked up “overseas.” Pirro stressed that other suspects remain at large and vowed the federal government will continue seeking those responsible.
“Let me be very clear — there are more of them out there,” Pirro said. “Time will not stop us from going after these predators, no matter how long it takes, in order to fulfill our obligation to those families who suffered horrific pain at the hands of these violent terrorists.”
Two other men have already been prosecuted in U.S. courts for roles in the Benghazi attacks. In 2014, U.S. forces captured Libyan national Ahmed Abu Khatallah; he was acquitted of murder in 2017 but convicted on other charges and initially sentenced to 22 years, a sentence later increased to 28 years in 2024. In 2017, Libyan national Mustafa al-Imam was captured in a U.S. operation, convicted in 2019 and sentenced to 19 years in prison.
Jacob Rosen contributed to this report.