US ambassador, consul among 4 killed in militia attack on Benghazi consulate

Published time: September 12, 2012 09:05
Edited time: September 12, 2012 19:18
A vehicle (R) and the surround buildings burn after they were set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR) Video from doualia.com
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The US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed when local militia assaulted Washington's consulate in Benghazi. President Barack Obama has condemned the attack.

Reports from various sources paint an unclear picture of the circumstances surrounding Ambassador John Christopher Steven's death.

A group of extremist militia members stormed Benghazi's US consulate on Tuesday night. Stevens may not have been killed in the Tuesday night assault, however, but rather when a second mob attacked his motorcade as it was leaving Benghazi Wednesday morning, the Guardian said.

Libyan officials alleged that Islamist militants fired rockets at Steven's car, killing him and three other embassy staffers. Witnesses cited by local media claimed that members of the hardline Islamist group Ansar Al-Sharia were among the ranks of the attackers.

President Obama and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen have roundly condemned the attack, and mourned Steven's death.

"Chris was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States. Throughout the Libyan revolution, he selflessly served our country and the Libyan people at our mission in Benghazi," Obama said in a statement.

"We apologise to the United States, the people and to the whole world for what happened," interim Libyan president Mohammed Magarief said in a news conference. "We confirm that no one will escape from punishment and questioning."

The US diplomatic facility in eastern Libya was evacuated following violent clashes, and a horde of militia members then stormed the building and torched it.

Tunisian Salafis are now calling for an attack on their country's US embassy, Tunisian media outlets said. Salafis militants had previously attempted to attack the embassy, but were repelled by security forces. Many in the region believe another attack is imminent.

President Obama has ordered increased security for US diplomatic personnel around the world, and a Marine fleet anti-terrorist security team has been dispatched to Libya to boost security.

Film mocking Muhammad sparks violence, worldwide anger among Muslims

The outbreak of violence is part of global Islamic outrage against the American amateur film 'Innocence of Muslims,' which was deemed offensive to the Prophet Muhammad. Similar attacks took place at the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

The independent film was allegedly produced and directed by Sam Bacile, a 56 year-old Israeli-American real estate developer. According to Ynet, Bacile said he raised $5 million from about 100 Jewish donors, whom he declined to identify. On the eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, controversial pastor Terry Jones released a video promoting the film, which portrays the Prophet in what he described as a "satirical" manner.

A vehicle and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames after it was set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)
A vehicle and the surrounding area are engulfed in flames after it was set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)

The attack may also be a retaliatory tactic by Gaddafi loyalists for the arrest of the regime’s former Intelligence Chief Abdullah al-Senussi, journalist Zaid Benjamin’s wrote on Twitter.

Al-Senussi was extradited from Mauritania to Tripoli on September 5. The International Federation for Human Rights called on Libyan authorities to send al-Senussi to the International Criminal Court, concerned that a trial in the country would not be open and transparent.

An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)
An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars are engulfed in flames after being set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)

­Ambassador Stevens was born in northern California in 1960.

He was first sent to Libya in June 2007 as deputy chief of the country’s US mission, and then served as chargé d’affaires at the Tripoli embassy until 2009.

Stevens returned to Libya in April 2011, arriving on a cargo ship. The US government sent him to rebel headquarters in Benghazi to serve as a special representative to the Libyan National Transitional Council.

In March 2012, Stevens was named the US ambassador to Libya.

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A vehicle sits smoldering in flames after being set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)
A vehicle sits smoldering in flames after being set on fire inside the US consulate compound in Benghazi late on September 11, 2012.(AFP Photo / STR)

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A man walks inside the U.S. consulate, which was attacked and set on fire by gunmen yesterday, in Benghazi September 12, 2012.(Reuters / Esam Al-Fetori)
A man walks inside the U.S. consulate, which was attacked and set on fire by gunmen yesterday, in Benghazi September 12, 2012.(Reuters / Esam Al-Fetori)

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An interior view of the damage at the U.S. consulate, which was attacked and set on fire by gunmen yesterday, in Benghazi September 12, 2012.(Reuters / Esam Al-Fetori)
An interior view of the damage at the U.S. consulate, which was attacked and set on fire by gunmen yesterday, in Benghazi September 12, 2012.(Reuters / Esam Al-Fetori)

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John Christopher Stevens, US ambassador to Libya, shakes hands with Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil (R) after presenting his credentials during a meeting in Tripoli, June 7, 2012.(AFP Photo / Mahmud Turkia)
John Christopher Stevens, US ambassador to Libya, shakes hands with Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil (R) after presenting his credentials during a meeting in Tripoli, June 7, 2012.(AFP Photo / Mahmud Turkia)

Comments (211)

Otto von Bülow (unregistered) 12.10.2012 00:35

People, this is not about the movie……… ……………… ……………… ………   This is about hate towards Jew-USA-Wes t by any Muslim, 99% of them…………… ……….. Muslims Do Hate Jew-USA for a good reason. Hundreds of Muslim-defaming movies have been made , movie  in question was made some time ago,... so Muslim in Egypt and Libya waited till 9/11 2012 to attack the Jew-USA Embassy? he he he he stop being gullible Vast majority Hollywood made movies were: Russians-defaming, East Europeans-defaming, Germans –Defaming, Christ ians-defaming, Native Indians-defaming, Muslim-defaming… The rest of them are… pro-Jews and pro-Blacks and pro-Homosexuals J ew controlled western media and their Muslim Lackeys push this Muslim-defaming-Movi e pretext because they want more censorship, more muzzling of populations in general… in the west.  You see my dear people, the International Jew wants to be in charge of deciding who to hate and who to worship. The International Jew hates people hating on their own, at their own will, freely at grass roots, without being told who to hate. So censorship, muzzlin g culture is needed. Tomorrow, Jews may criminalize making Muslim-defaming movies and the day after tomorrow they will criminalize : jew-defaming-movies, blacks-defaming movies, obama-defaming-movie s, jewish-bankers-d efaming movies, Drone-By-Shooting –defaming movies, JEWS..USA Killing People around the world-defaming movies, NATO-defaming movies… you got the drift…. Jews will decide what is and what is not defaming …and do not forget that! Afterthough t, re Russians-defamin g, East Europeans-defaming, Germans –Defaming, Christ ians-defaming, movies….. Perha ps  Russians and Germans and Christians should start burning US Embassies for all those defaming-movies making? ……… ……………… ……………… ……………… … Hhhhmmmmmm Yeah, I like that!  

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A.Patriot (unregistered) 15.09.2012 10:43

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Bacile, a real estate developer, has assumed responsibility for the anti-Islam film, which he said was made thanks to Jewish donations totaling USD 5 (undefined 5,00) million.

Yes that's right Apartheid Israel PAID the film producer to make and produce the racist, hateful Islamaphobic movie which has cost multiple Americans their lives, cost untold Billions in damage world-wide.

H ow much of that 5 MILLION dollars was actually USA Taxpayer dollars among the 3+ Billion in cash which the USA Taxpayers are forced to pay Apartheid Israel each year?

Where's the mass condemnation by Obama, Clinton and the State Department against Apartheid Israel for giving 5 MILLION dollars so that hateful, racist, disrespectful Islamaphobic movie would be made and ignite the current firestorm now erupting in 20 global nations?

Of course the Satanically evil Zionist owned,directed,led media outlets isn't going to offer to their viewers that Apartheid Israel nor any Jews were bankrolling and helping to produce that movie.

Instea d of just burning down USA Embassy's in Muslim majority nations around the world, the protesters and rioters should also focus on the few goose stepping Apartheid Israeli embassy's also. Demanding those evil people leave their nations permantely.

T hru deception the Satanically evil Zionists leading Apartheid Israel appear to have been directly planning and behind that hateful, racist Islamaphobic movie to ignite the current firestorm AGAINST America in some depraved fashion to further their anti-Muslim agenda of ethnic and physical genocide for their Greater Apartheid Israel.

Globa lly Boycott, Deinvest, Sanction Apartheid Israel with every step, effort and day. Americans should demand that all USA Taxpayer funding to Apartheid Israel immediately stop.

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Orion (unregistered) 14.09.2012 08:15

The Middle East is not doing this. God is. He is bringing Rezin's Enemies against America because she is not turning back to Him. She continues to deny Him when He speaks to Her.It's in your Holy Bible. Isaiah 9:11

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