Libyan police and American forces captured a suspected ringleader of the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya in 2012, which left Ambassador Christopher Stephens and three other men dead.  This marks the first capture of one of the accused perpetrators.

President Obama released a statement say Khattala will face “the full weight of the US justice system”, meaning he will be put on trial in a US court.  Officials say Ahmed Abu Khattala was captured near Benghazi in a smooth operation. 

“There were no civilian casualties related to this operation, and all U.S. personnel involved in the operation have safely departed Libya,” read a statement from Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby.

Khattala is now being held outside Libya.  In the past, American forces have whisked terrorism suspects onto Navy ships where they are interrogated on their way to the US, where they are turned over to the FBI for further interviews.

The aftermath of the Benghazi attack was an embarrassment for the Obama administration.  An Islamist militant and commander in the group Ansar al-Shariah, Khattala was identified as a leader early on in the investigation.  But he appeared to enjoy a level of protection by Libyan authorities, and was seen in openly hanging out in cafes several times after the attack, granting interviews as he sipped strawberry frappes.