US prosecutors have filed the first criminal charges against a suspect in the deadly terror attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.  Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

Several suspects are charged in the armed assault that occurred on 11 September, 2012.  They include prominent Libyan militia figure Ahmed Abu Khattala, described as the founder of Ansar al-Sharia, a Libyan extremist group.  Investigators have said for months that they believe he was at the U.S. consulate during the attack.  It is not known if Khattala is in custody.

A month after the attack, Khattala told the New York Times that he had arrived at the American compound in Benghazi as gunfire broke out but that he had played no role in the attack.

The charges were filed under seal in Washington, D.C. late last month.