US News

US has IDs of B’ghazi ‘killers’

WASHINGTON — US officials have identified five men they believe were behind the September consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, but have yet to apprehend them.

Officials have enough evidence to justify seizing the suspects by military force as suspected terrorists, but not enough proof to try them in civilian court as the Obama administration intends.

The FBI released photos of three of the five suspects earlier this month, requesting that the public provide information. The pictures were taken during the attack by security cameras at the US diplomatic post.

Initial FBI information indicates the men may be linked to Ansar al-Shariah, a terrorist group with ties to al Qaeda. The FBI has proof that the men were at the attack or discussed being there.

The United States could ask Libya to arrest the suspects and extradite them, or the United States could also employ a military team to apprehend the men and take them to an off-site location such as a naval warship.

US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens died in the attack that was first attributed as being inspired by a spontaneous protest of an anti-Islam video made in America. Obama-administration officials later conceded it was a terrorist attack.

Republicans have accused the administration of intentionally misleading the American public so as to not bruise President Obama’s war-on-terror cred during a presidential election year.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said he may recall former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton before his committee. “We bring her back when we have a lot of questions, including who told her what, or more importantly, who didn’t tell her something,” Issa said.