U.S. Envoy to Libya May Have Died in Assault by al-Qaeda
(Updates with other attacks in sixth and seventh paragraphs.)
Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The four-hour assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi may have been orchestrated by groups tied to al-Qaeda, lawmakers said as U.S. officials began to investigate the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens.
The attack in Libya that also killed three other U.S. personnel bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda and may have been carried out to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S., said Michigan Republican Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House intelligence committee.
“It certainly appears to me the significance of this date was important,” Rogers told CNN yesterday. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who heads the Senate intelligence panel, also told the network the attack may have been premeditated.
It may have been the work of al-Qaeda because “the weapons were somewhat sophisticated, and they blew a hole in the building and started a big fire, and that’s how the ambassador died, in a fire,” Feinstein said.
It’s too early to say who the perpetrators were and what affiliation they may have had, according to U.S. officials who briefed reporters yesterday on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
No Justification
Demonstrations spread for a third day today with protests in Egypt, Iran and Yemen. In Sana’a, assailants breached the U.S. embassy’s security perimeter and set two cars on fire, according to Yousef Al-Ahjan, one of the protesters. Security forces fired in the air to repel and break up the demonstration.
Protesters in Cairo set fire to two police vehicles as authorities tried to keep demonstrators away. The clashes have injured 14 policemen, while 12 protesters have been arrested, the Interior Ministry said. Protesters outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents U.S. interests, chanted “death to Israel” and “death to America.”.
President Barack Obama called the leaders of Egypt and Libya to request help in securing American diplomatic offices. “The President said that he rejects efforts to denigrate Islam, but underscored that there is never any justification for violence against innocents,” according to a statement.
Early reports portrayed the protest in Libya as a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Islamic video posted on YouTube. The video, which ridicules the Islamic Prophet Muhammed, also sparked demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia.
Benghazi Compound
The Pentagon dispatched an anti-terrorism team of 50 U.S. Marines from Europe to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, to safeguard the U.S. embassy there and also assist in evacuating American personnel from Libya, U.S. officials told reporters yesterday.
Two U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have been assigned to patrol off Libya, U.S. officials said. The USS Laboon is already on station, and the USS McFaul will arrive within two days, the officials said. They said the warships, which haven’t received specific orders, will be available for contingencies.
The assault on the Benghazi compound, which includes a main building, several ancillary buildings and an annex, began about 10 p.m. local time on Sept. 11, according to the officials who briefed reporters.
In about 15 minutes the assailants had breached the perimeter guarded by Libyan security forces and began setting fire to buildings, said one of the officials.
Armed Groups
It took Libyan security forces and U.S. personnel, repelled by flames, dark smoke and small-arms fire, four hours to regain control, the official said. By 2 a.m., three Americans were found dead inside the compound, and Ambassador Stevens couldn’t be found, the official said. Stevens had been taken to a hospital and his body was later returned to U.S. personnel at the Benghazi airport, the official said.
Source http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/U-S-Envoy-to-Libya-May-Have-Died-in-Assault-by-3862022.php
Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The four-hour assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi may have been orchestrated by groups tied to al-Qaeda, lawmakers said as U.S. officials began to investigate the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens.
The attack in Libya that also killed three other U.S. personnel bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda and may have been carried out to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S., said Michigan Republican Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House intelligence committee.
“It certainly appears to me the significance of this date was important,” Rogers told CNN yesterday. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who heads the Senate intelligence panel, also told the network the attack may have been premeditated.
It may have been the work of al-Qaeda because “the weapons were somewhat sophisticated, and they blew a hole in the building and started a big fire, and that’s how the ambassador died, in a fire,” Feinstein said.
It’s too early to say who the perpetrators were and what affiliation they may have had, according to U.S. officials who briefed reporters yesterday on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
No Justification
Demonstrations spread for a third day today with protests in Egypt, Iran and Yemen. In Sana’a, assailants breached the U.S. embassy’s security perimeter and set two cars on fire, according to Yousef Al-Ahjan, one of the protesters. Security forces fired in the air to repel and break up the demonstration.
Protesters in Cairo set fire to two police vehicles as authorities tried to keep demonstrators away. The clashes have injured 14 policemen, while 12 protesters have been arrested, the Interior Ministry said. Protesters outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents U.S. interests, chanted “death to Israel” and “death to America.”.
President Barack Obama called the leaders of Egypt and Libya to request help in securing American diplomatic offices. “The President said that he rejects efforts to denigrate Islam, but underscored that there is never any justification for violence against innocents,” according to a statement.
Early reports portrayed the protest in Libya as a spontaneous reaction to an anti-Islamic video posted on YouTube. The video, which ridicules the Islamic Prophet Muhammed, also sparked demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia.
Benghazi Compound
The Pentagon dispatched an anti-terrorism team of 50 U.S. Marines from Europe to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, to safeguard the U.S. embassy there and also assist in evacuating American personnel from Libya, U.S. officials told reporters yesterday.
Two U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have been assigned to patrol off Libya, U.S. officials said. The USS Laboon is already on station, and the USS McFaul will arrive within two days, the officials said. They said the warships, which haven’t received specific orders, will be available for contingencies.
The assault on the Benghazi compound, which includes a main building, several ancillary buildings and an annex, began about 10 p.m. local time on Sept. 11, according to the officials who briefed reporters.
In about 15 minutes the assailants had breached the perimeter guarded by Libyan security forces and began setting fire to buildings, said one of the officials.
Armed Groups
It took Libyan security forces and U.S. personnel, repelled by flames, dark smoke and small-arms fire, four hours to regain control, the official said. By 2 a.m., three Americans were found dead inside the compound, and Ambassador Stevens couldn’t be found, the official said. Stevens had been taken to a hospital and his body was later returned to U.S. personnel at the Benghazi airport, the official said.
Source http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/U-S-Envoy-to-Libya-May-Have-Died-in-Assault-by-3862022.php
Comments