1 00:00:03,437 --> 00:00:04,830 - We had these reports coming in 2 00:00:04,873 --> 00:00:07,224 that the US embassy in Libya had been attacked. 3 00:00:07,267 --> 00:00:10,270 - The attackers were Muslim protesters, 4 00:00:10,314 --> 00:00:12,751 apparently angry about an Internet film 5 00:00:12,794 --> 00:00:14,492 produced in the United States. 6 00:00:14,535 --> 00:00:16,494 [indistinct shouting] 7 00:00:16,537 --> 00:00:18,844 - There were up to 60 individuals gathered 8 00:00:18,887 --> 00:00:19,888 outside the embassy. 9 00:00:19,932 --> 00:00:21,760 [indistinct shouting] 10 00:00:21,803 --> 00:00:25,459 They came armed with AK-47s, guns. 11 00:00:25,503 --> 00:00:27,505 They gathered gasoline canisters 12 00:00:27,548 --> 00:00:29,028 so that they could burn it. 13 00:00:29,072 --> 00:00:33,119 That fire was tremendous. 14 00:00:33,163 --> 00:00:34,729 This was anything 15 00:00:34,773 --> 00:00:37,167 but a protest gone bad. 16 00:00:37,210 --> 00:00:39,908 The news comes across that the ambassador is missing. 17 00:00:39,952 --> 00:00:41,649 - My name is Chris Stevens, 18 00:00:41,693 --> 00:00:43,782 and I'm the new US ambassador to Libya. 19 00:00:43,825 --> 00:00:44,870 - We're trying to figure out exactly 20 00:00:44,913 --> 00:00:46,741 who was behind this attack. 21 00:00:46,785 --> 00:00:48,656 It's like a 10,000-piece puzzle. 22 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:49,962 [dramatic music] 23 00:00:50,005 --> 00:00:51,616 But you don't have the pieces. 24 00:00:51,659 --> 00:00:53,096 And you don't even have a picture 25 00:00:53,139 --> 00:00:55,663 to try and put it together. 26 00:00:55,707 --> 00:00:58,318 - There were about ten employees inside the building. 27 00:00:58,362 --> 00:01:00,407 - They still haven't accounted for everyone 28 00:01:00,451 --> 00:01:02,148 and haven't secured the consulate. 29 00:01:02,192 --> 00:01:03,889 - I don't know that there can be 30 00:01:03,932 --> 00:01:05,978 any greater motivating factor than to bring to justice 31 00:01:06,021 --> 00:01:08,894 those individuals who are responsible. 32 00:01:08,937 --> 00:01:11,462 But our challenge now is trying to figure out who they are. 33 00:01:11,505 --> 00:01:14,856 [gunfire] 34 00:01:14,900 --> 00:01:16,510 ♪ 35 00:01:16,554 --> 00:01:19,644 - In the FBI, we make a lot of headlines... 36 00:01:19,687 --> 00:01:22,689 ♪ 37 00:01:22,734 --> 00:01:24,170 Drug busts, 38 00:01:24,213 --> 00:01:27,042 mob stings, 39 00:01:27,086 --> 00:01:28,783 terrorists takedowns. 40 00:01:28,826 --> 00:01:30,916 - Get down! Get down! 41 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,266 - We understand why people want to tell stories about US. 42 00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:34,311 - Mark it. 43 00:01:34,354 --> 00:01:35,834 - Freeze! - FBI. 44 00:01:35,877 --> 00:01:37,488 - FBI! - Action! 45 00:01:37,531 --> 00:01:39,576 - But they don't know the half of it. 46 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:41,231 [indistinct radio chatter] 47 00:01:41,274 --> 00:01:43,363 What really goes down, 48 00:01:43,407 --> 00:01:45,626 we save that for each other, 49 00:01:45,670 --> 00:01:47,671 when we're talking agent to agent. 50 00:01:47,715 --> 00:01:50,718 ♪ 51 00:01:50,762 --> 00:01:53,852 This is "FBI True." 52 00:01:58,073 --> 00:02:00,554 [tense music] 53 00:02:00,598 --> 00:02:04,079 ♪ 54 00:02:04,123 --> 00:02:07,779 - Cindy Coppola is a 23-year veteran of the FBI. 55 00:02:07,822 --> 00:02:10,347 She worked on cases that included organized crime 56 00:02:10,390 --> 00:02:12,218 and terrorism and took part 57 00:02:12,262 --> 00:02:14,220 in multinational investigations 58 00:02:14,264 --> 00:02:16,875 into drug trafficking and money laundering. 59 00:02:16,918 --> 00:02:19,225 Coppola finished her career with the Los Angeles division, 60 00:02:19,269 --> 00:02:22,271 running two offices, supervising investigations, 61 00:02:22,315 --> 00:02:24,970 and providing undercover security for special events. 62 00:02:27,233 --> 00:02:30,410 - September rolls around, the anniversary of 9/11. 63 00:02:30,454 --> 00:02:31,846 What are you doing? - September 11th, 2012, 64 00:02:31,890 --> 00:02:33,239 it wasn't lost on anyone, 65 00:02:33,283 --> 00:02:34,371 the significance of that day. - No, of course. 66 00:02:34,414 --> 00:02:38,331 ♪ 67 00:02:38,375 --> 00:02:40,420 - The antennas are up. 68 00:02:40,464 --> 00:02:41,900 New York is always a target, 69 00:02:41,943 --> 00:02:43,074 and we wanna make sure, you know-- 70 00:02:43,118 --> 00:02:44,163 - No copycat. 71 00:02:44,207 --> 00:02:45,556 - No copycat attack. - Yeah. 72 00:02:45,598 --> 00:02:49,342 - Ari Mahairas joined the FBI in 1996. 73 00:02:49,386 --> 00:02:51,388 He worked in the Special Operations 74 00:02:51,431 --> 00:02:53,216 and Criminal divisions in New York, 75 00:02:53,259 --> 00:02:55,261 later joining the Counterterrorism Division 76 00:02:55,305 --> 00:02:58,003 and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. 77 00:02:58,046 --> 00:03:00,571 He retired as Special Agent in Charge of New York's 78 00:03:00,614 --> 00:03:03,269 Counterintelligence Cyber Division. 79 00:03:03,313 --> 00:03:05,315 - You know, we're thinking everything is going okay 80 00:03:05,358 --> 00:03:07,360 and wrap up the day. 81 00:03:07,404 --> 00:03:08,927 I'm listening to the news driving home, 82 00:03:08,970 --> 00:03:10,450 and we have these reports coming in 83 00:03:10,494 --> 00:03:12,974 that the US embassy in Libya had been attacked. 84 00:03:13,018 --> 00:03:15,281 - On Tuesday, dozens of protesters attacked 85 00:03:15,325 --> 00:03:17,849 the US embassy in Egypt and burned down 86 00:03:17,892 --> 00:03:21,940 the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. 87 00:03:21,983 --> 00:03:24,116 - I get home and turn on the TV immediately, 88 00:03:24,159 --> 00:03:26,161 just trying to absorb and understand 89 00:03:26,205 --> 00:03:29,295 exactly where we are, because I know, no doubt, 90 00:03:29,339 --> 00:03:30,905 that CT3 is gonna open a case on this. 91 00:03:30,949 --> 00:03:32,733 - Of course, because New York handles that territory. 92 00:03:32,777 --> 00:03:34,779 - So CT3 had the extraterritorial 93 00:03:34,822 --> 00:03:37,216 responsibility for criminal activity 94 00:03:37,259 --> 00:03:39,697 that took place against US interests in North Africa. 95 00:03:39,740 --> 00:03:42,569 So this would fall within our area of responsibility. 96 00:03:42,613 --> 00:03:44,702 - And it wasn't really an embassy at the time, right? 97 00:03:44,745 --> 00:03:46,791 - That's how it was being reported in the news. 98 00:03:46,834 --> 00:03:49,533 But in reality, what was attacked was 99 00:03:49,576 --> 00:03:52,318 the US temporary mission facility in Benghazi, 100 00:03:52,362 --> 00:03:53,449 or the special mission. 101 00:03:53,493 --> 00:03:56,191 ♪ 102 00:03:56,235 --> 00:03:58,585 And so we hear the news, and there's a report 103 00:03:58,629 --> 00:04:00,370 that Ambassador Chris Stevens had gone missing. 104 00:04:04,374 --> 00:04:06,811 ♪ 105 00:04:06,854 --> 00:04:08,378 We're in New York. This is taking place... 106 00:04:08,421 --> 00:04:10,815 - Yeah, of course. - 5,000 miles away in Libya. 107 00:04:10,858 --> 00:04:13,339 The news comes across that the ambassador is missing. 108 00:04:13,383 --> 00:04:15,863 So I get in the car, and I start making phone calls 109 00:04:15,907 --> 00:04:18,257 to the different supervisors, 110 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:19,606 the agents that are on the squad. 111 00:04:19,649 --> 00:04:21,521 We got to the office, 112 00:04:21,565 --> 00:04:25,308 and we began gathering as much information as we can. 113 00:04:25,351 --> 00:04:27,179 The initial reports that were coming 114 00:04:27,222 --> 00:04:29,834 from the US government side was that this was a result 115 00:04:29,877 --> 00:04:33,620 of a protest stemming from a video. 116 00:04:33,664 --> 00:04:35,056 [indistinct shouting] 117 00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:37,189 - The attackers were Muslim protesters, 118 00:04:37,232 --> 00:04:40,018 apparently angry about an Internet film 119 00:04:40,061 --> 00:04:42,063 produced in the United States 120 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:45,327 that ridicules the prophet Muhammad. 121 00:04:45,371 --> 00:04:47,242 - And as a result of that video 122 00:04:47,286 --> 00:04:48,896 that was found to be offensive, 123 00:04:48,940 --> 00:04:51,334 there was a spontaneous protest in Egypt. 124 00:04:51,377 --> 00:04:54,249 [indistinct yelling] 125 00:04:56,991 --> 00:04:59,429 And the initial reports that was being given 126 00:04:59,472 --> 00:05:02,954 by the government at the time was that the events in Egypt 127 00:05:02,997 --> 00:05:05,870 sparked what had taken place in Benghazi, Libya. 128 00:05:05,913 --> 00:05:08,351 [indistinct yelling and chanting] 129 00:05:10,483 --> 00:05:11,832 - And the other thing is, 130 00:05:11,876 --> 00:05:13,704 what was the ambassador doing there? 131 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:15,314 What was his role? 132 00:05:16,446 --> 00:05:17,795 - Asalaam alaikum. 133 00:05:17,838 --> 00:05:19,187 My name is Chris Stevens, 134 00:05:19,231 --> 00:05:21,712 and I'm the new US ambassador to Libya. 135 00:05:21,755 --> 00:05:24,410 - So there was a lot going on in Libya. 136 00:05:24,454 --> 00:05:26,717 As we know, it was just after the fall of Gaddafi. 137 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,938 ♪ 138 00:05:30,982 --> 00:05:33,419 There were a lot of militias operating 139 00:05:33,463 --> 00:05:34,855 in the vacuum of authority, 140 00:05:34,899 --> 00:05:36,683 and everybody was vying 141 00:05:36,726 --> 00:05:38,119 to get a piece of the pie, if you will. 142 00:05:38,163 --> 00:05:41,122 Ambassador Stevens in Benghazi was there 143 00:05:41,166 --> 00:05:42,733 doing what diplomats do. 144 00:05:42,776 --> 00:05:46,911 He was there to establish relationships, 145 00:05:46,954 --> 00:05:49,261 meet with the locals, his counterparts, 146 00:05:49,304 --> 00:05:51,132 and build those relationships 147 00:05:51,176 --> 00:05:52,786 that advance the mutual interests 148 00:05:52,830 --> 00:05:55,441 of both the United States and the Libyan government. 149 00:05:55,485 --> 00:05:57,225 - I am excited to return to Libya 150 00:05:57,269 --> 00:05:59,576 to continue the great work we've started, 151 00:05:59,619 --> 00:06:01,316 building a solid partnership 152 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,580 between the United States and Libya to help you, 153 00:06:03,623 --> 00:06:06,147 the Libyan people, achieve your goals. 154 00:06:06,191 --> 00:06:08,411 - And that night, he actually had dinner 155 00:06:08,454 --> 00:06:10,238 with some of his local counterparts. 156 00:06:10,282 --> 00:06:12,893 After the meeting had concluded, 157 00:06:12,937 --> 00:06:15,243 the ambassador retired to his residence. 158 00:06:15,287 --> 00:06:17,115 And it was about that time 159 00:06:17,158 --> 00:06:18,856 when the attack actually started. 160 00:06:23,426 --> 00:06:25,950 - What were you hearing that you weren't hearing-- 161 00:06:25,993 --> 00:06:27,038 like, seeing on the news? 162 00:06:27,081 --> 00:06:28,343 - One of the toughest things 163 00:06:28,387 --> 00:06:30,781 you do in this type of an investigation 164 00:06:30,824 --> 00:06:34,000 is to gather the intelligence and make sense of it. 165 00:06:34,045 --> 00:06:37,483 ♪ 166 00:06:37,527 --> 00:06:39,833 Intelligence work-- well, especially in this case, 167 00:06:39,877 --> 00:06:42,488 is like putting a puzzle together. 168 00:06:42,532 --> 00:06:44,621 It's like a 10,000-piece puzzle, 169 00:06:44,664 --> 00:06:46,144 but you don't have the pieces. 170 00:06:48,363 --> 00:06:49,930 And you don't even have a picture 171 00:06:49,974 --> 00:06:51,541 to try and put it together. 172 00:06:51,584 --> 00:06:54,369 But the initial intelligence we were receiving, 173 00:06:54,413 --> 00:06:57,503 I think it was fairly reasonable to conclude 174 00:06:57,547 --> 00:07:01,420 that this was anything but a protest gone bad. 175 00:07:05,555 --> 00:07:09,297 The reports were, there were 30 and up to 60 individuals 176 00:07:09,341 --> 00:07:11,517 who had gathered outside the embassy. 177 00:07:11,561 --> 00:07:13,519 But one of the telltale signs was, 178 00:07:13,563 --> 00:07:16,827 they came armed with AK-47s and RPGs. 179 00:07:16,870 --> 00:07:20,526 ♪ 180 00:07:20,570 --> 00:07:23,268 Right, so that doesn't follow the script... 181 00:07:23,311 --> 00:07:24,661 - Correct. - Of a protest gone bad. 182 00:07:24,704 --> 00:07:27,272 - Of a "protest," right. 183 00:07:27,315 --> 00:07:29,404 Do you know where the ambassador is at this point? 184 00:07:29,448 --> 00:07:32,016 - The first indication we had of any whereabouts 185 00:07:32,059 --> 00:07:34,540 of the ambassador came in a social media post, 186 00:07:34,584 --> 00:07:37,369 which depicted the ambassador's lifeless body in a picture. 187 00:07:37,412 --> 00:07:39,763 [indistinct chatter] 188 00:07:42,461 --> 00:07:45,333 And we didn't know exactly what was happening. 189 00:07:45,377 --> 00:07:47,640 But we began to sort of flesh that out-- 190 00:07:47,684 --> 00:07:49,381 - Right, through the intel community. 191 00:07:49,424 --> 00:07:51,165 - And what we were able to determine 192 00:07:51,209 --> 00:07:53,124 was that the ambassador was found 193 00:07:53,167 --> 00:07:56,344 inside a room of a safe house. 194 00:07:56,388 --> 00:07:59,304 And despite appearing to be lifeless, 195 00:07:59,347 --> 00:08:01,436 he was taken to the Benghazi Medical Center, 196 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,351 where attempts to resuscitate him failed. 197 00:08:03,395 --> 00:08:06,572 - The US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, 198 00:08:06,616 --> 00:08:09,880 died yesterday when Muslim protesters stormed 199 00:08:09,923 --> 00:08:13,927 and set fire to the US consulate in Benghazi. 200 00:08:17,452 --> 00:08:19,324 - So you're at the office, 201 00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:22,109 getting everybody broken into different teams. 202 00:08:22,153 --> 00:08:23,371 What's our plan of attack? 203 00:08:23,415 --> 00:08:25,548 - As we're strategizing in the office, 204 00:08:25,591 --> 00:08:27,506 we're still receiving intelligence. 205 00:08:27,550 --> 00:08:29,464 And we're trying to figure out exactly what happened. 206 00:08:29,508 --> 00:08:31,031 And so what we did was, 207 00:08:31,075 --> 00:08:33,773 deployed the investigative team. 208 00:08:33,817 --> 00:08:35,340 They went to Ramstein, 209 00:08:35,383 --> 00:08:37,864 where we spun up the forward operating base, 210 00:08:37,908 --> 00:08:40,083 where they would eventually rendezvous 211 00:08:40,127 --> 00:08:42,608 and meet up with the victims... 212 00:08:42,652 --> 00:08:43,914 - Sure. - Of the attack, 213 00:08:43,957 --> 00:08:46,873 who were just out of the danger zone, 214 00:08:46,917 --> 00:08:49,136 who had been evacuated. 215 00:08:49,180 --> 00:08:51,878 - And a law enforcement source said the FBI would 216 00:08:51,922 --> 00:08:54,011 begin the investigation by interviewing 217 00:08:54,054 --> 00:08:56,491 the 30 American survivors of the attack, 218 00:08:56,535 --> 00:09:00,495 who are now at a US military base in Germany. 219 00:09:00,539 --> 00:09:02,933 - The survivors painted a terrifying picture 220 00:09:02,976 --> 00:09:04,064 of what unfolded that night. 221 00:09:05,762 --> 00:09:08,460 - So at some point in Benghazi, 222 00:09:08,503 --> 00:09:10,810 there's a group of militants gathered. 223 00:09:12,420 --> 00:09:14,466 They breach the C1 gate. 224 00:09:16,163 --> 00:09:18,470 They start moving through the compound unimpeded. 225 00:09:22,561 --> 00:09:24,694 After setting fire to the guardhouse, 226 00:09:24,737 --> 00:09:27,261 they made their way to the main house. 227 00:09:30,047 --> 00:09:32,049 Inside the main house, there was a safe room. 228 00:09:32,092 --> 00:09:33,920 That's where the DS agent was 229 00:09:33,964 --> 00:09:37,054 with Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith, 230 00:09:37,097 --> 00:09:39,839 another diplomat who was the information management officer 231 00:09:39,883 --> 00:09:42,233 for the embassy. 232 00:09:42,276 --> 00:09:44,322 The militants try to break into the safe room. 233 00:09:49,719 --> 00:09:53,113 Unable to do so, 234 00:09:53,157 --> 00:09:55,638 they gather gasoline canisters... 235 00:09:58,553 --> 00:10:01,252 And put everything that they could together 236 00:10:01,295 --> 00:10:02,340 so that they could burn it. 237 00:10:02,383 --> 00:10:04,342 That fire was tremendous. 238 00:10:09,303 --> 00:10:11,349 As the fire burned and raged, 239 00:10:11,392 --> 00:10:13,830 burning everything in its path, 240 00:10:13,873 --> 00:10:15,658 smoke started getting into the room 241 00:10:15,701 --> 00:10:19,749 where the ambassador was with Sean Smith and the DS agent. 242 00:10:19,792 --> 00:10:24,231 The DS agent, believing he had the ambassador 243 00:10:24,275 --> 00:10:26,843 and Sean behind him, climbs out of the window, 244 00:10:26,886 --> 00:10:29,062 gasping for air, barely conscious. 245 00:10:29,106 --> 00:10:30,847 Realizing though, that he did not have 246 00:10:30,890 --> 00:10:33,023 the ambassador and Sean with him, 247 00:10:33,066 --> 00:10:35,678 he climbed back in to find them. 248 00:10:41,727 --> 00:10:44,208 He was unable to do so. 249 00:10:44,251 --> 00:10:47,472 The GRS units from the CIA annex arrive. 250 00:10:56,786 --> 00:10:58,657 And as they arrived at the special mission, 251 00:10:58,701 --> 00:10:59,919 they were met with gunfire. 252 00:10:59,963 --> 00:11:02,574 [gunfire] 253 00:11:06,839 --> 00:11:09,799 But they were able to push back the attackers 254 00:11:09,842 --> 00:11:12,323 and were able to gain entry into the special mission... 255 00:11:14,629 --> 00:11:17,415 where they eventually find Sean Smith. 256 00:11:17,458 --> 00:11:19,547 Unfortunately, he had already passed. 257 00:11:23,203 --> 00:11:25,075 But they were unable to find the ambassador. 258 00:11:25,118 --> 00:11:28,600 And realizing that the situation was deteriorating, 259 00:11:28,643 --> 00:11:30,515 they make their way back to the CIA annex. 260 00:11:32,996 --> 00:11:36,260 And almost immediately, the battle starts again. 261 00:11:36,303 --> 00:11:37,870 [gunfire] 262 00:11:37,914 --> 00:11:39,872 But this time, with heavy weapons, 263 00:11:39,916 --> 00:11:42,962 small arms fire, and even a mortar attack. 264 00:11:43,006 --> 00:11:46,705 Those direct mortar hits resulted in the death 265 00:11:46,749 --> 00:11:50,013 of Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty of the GRS units. 266 00:11:53,233 --> 00:11:55,322 Even not being there, just hearing the story, 267 00:11:55,366 --> 00:11:58,761 and then with media reports actually showing you 268 00:11:58,804 --> 00:12:00,153 the burned down buildings... 269 00:12:04,462 --> 00:12:06,986 I don't know that there can be any greater motivating factor 270 00:12:07,030 --> 00:12:08,945 than to bring to justice those individuals 271 00:12:08,988 --> 00:12:12,339 who are responsible for the deaths of the Americans, 272 00:12:12,383 --> 00:12:15,603 Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, 273 00:12:15,647 --> 00:12:19,042 and Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. 274 00:12:24,830 --> 00:12:25,831 - Are you getting any information 275 00:12:25,875 --> 00:12:27,659 that you might be able to use 276 00:12:27,702 --> 00:12:30,009 to start putting together a piece of an investigation? 277 00:12:30,053 --> 00:12:31,968 - We're beginning to collect evidence. 278 00:12:32,011 --> 00:12:35,536 [tense music] 279 00:12:35,580 --> 00:12:36,537 We're trying to figure out exactly 280 00:12:36,581 --> 00:12:38,104 who was behind this attack. 281 00:12:40,367 --> 00:12:42,848 Some of the information that was developed early on 282 00:12:42,892 --> 00:12:46,634 were the militias who may have had a part in this, 283 00:12:46,678 --> 00:12:48,854 Ansar al-Sharia, Benghazi faction; 284 00:12:48,898 --> 00:12:51,204 Ansar Al-Sharia, Darnah faction; 285 00:12:51,248 --> 00:12:53,859 and then Ubaydah bin Jarrah, or UBJ, 286 00:12:53,903 --> 00:12:55,513 was the third faction 287 00:12:55,556 --> 00:12:58,821 because of their strength in that area 288 00:12:58,864 --> 00:13:01,519 and their intent on establishing Sharia law. 289 00:13:03,303 --> 00:13:05,915 So these three groups rise sort of to the top 290 00:13:05,958 --> 00:13:08,395 of your suspect list. 291 00:13:08,439 --> 00:13:10,963 So the information is coming in fast and furious. 292 00:13:11,007 --> 00:13:13,183 One of the things that early on we were able 293 00:13:13,226 --> 00:13:15,925 to get our hands on was the video surveillance system 294 00:13:15,968 --> 00:13:17,274 of the mission. 295 00:13:17,317 --> 00:13:18,710 That proved to be critical. 296 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,455 And what we were able to gather was not only 297 00:13:24,498 --> 00:13:27,371 a sort of better picture of what actually happened. 298 00:13:27,414 --> 00:13:29,112 - Sure. - That was corroborated 299 00:13:29,155 --> 00:13:31,505 by the statements given 300 00:13:31,549 --> 00:13:33,594 of the victims who had been evacuated. 301 00:13:33,638 --> 00:13:36,380 But we were able to get some still photos now 302 00:13:36,423 --> 00:13:37,642 of individuals who were there. 303 00:13:42,168 --> 00:13:43,909 - Potential suspects. 304 00:13:43,953 --> 00:13:45,302 - But our challenge now is trying to figure out 305 00:13:45,345 --> 00:13:48,871 who they are, trying to identify those subjects. 306 00:13:48,914 --> 00:13:53,353 But once we're able to get the actual photos, the stills, 307 00:13:53,397 --> 00:13:54,920 we give them off to the intel analysts, 308 00:13:54,964 --> 00:13:56,791 and they did a tremendous job actually 309 00:13:56,835 --> 00:13:58,097 in putting names to faces. 310 00:13:59,664 --> 00:14:00,926 - Where are they getting those names from? 311 00:14:00,970 --> 00:14:01,971 Like, how are they figuring that? 312 00:14:02,014 --> 00:14:04,147 Is it from older cases, or is it, 313 00:14:04,190 --> 00:14:06,758 you know, collection of intel from the past? 314 00:14:06,801 --> 00:14:08,064 - All of the above, right? - Right. 315 00:14:08,107 --> 00:14:09,935 - You know, you gotta go to the old 316 00:14:09,979 --> 00:14:11,763 classic detective work. 317 00:14:11,806 --> 00:14:14,592 And so you start researching older cases. 318 00:14:14,635 --> 00:14:16,594 You start passing those photos around 319 00:14:16,637 --> 00:14:19,075 to sources for identification. - Sure. 320 00:14:19,118 --> 00:14:21,164 - And you start getting these names back. 321 00:14:21,207 --> 00:14:23,253 But you know, despite the progress we made there, 322 00:14:23,296 --> 00:14:25,124 there was still many faces without names. 323 00:14:28,911 --> 00:14:30,782 - That you didn't know who they were? 324 00:14:30,825 --> 00:14:32,915 - No, we had no idea. But you know though 325 00:14:32,958 --> 00:14:34,742 that typically what we would do, 326 00:14:34,786 --> 00:14:37,093 we would reach out to the host nation, 327 00:14:37,136 --> 00:14:39,617 who's best suited to identify their own citizens, 328 00:14:39,660 --> 00:14:41,358 and say, hey, who is this person? 329 00:14:41,401 --> 00:14:43,577 - But unfortunately, you can't-- 330 00:14:43,621 --> 00:14:44,578 there's no host-- - There's no host nation. 331 00:14:46,711 --> 00:14:49,932 The ability to collaborate with them was limited at best. 332 00:14:49,975 --> 00:14:51,020 - Which is a shame. - And so now we have 333 00:14:51,063 --> 00:14:52,543 to find a creative way. 334 00:14:52,586 --> 00:14:54,284 How do we do that? 335 00:14:54,327 --> 00:14:55,720 Well, one of the things that they did 336 00:14:55,763 --> 00:14:58,636 was coordinate with state department DS agents... 337 00:14:58,679 --> 00:15:00,029 - Yeah. - Who were previously 338 00:15:00,072 --> 00:15:01,204 on the ground and had established 339 00:15:01,247 --> 00:15:02,422 relationships with locals. 340 00:15:04,424 --> 00:15:05,991 Whether they're going three months or six months 341 00:15:06,035 --> 00:15:07,340 or a year, there's people that had been 342 00:15:07,384 --> 00:15:09,995 previously assigned there, just left, 343 00:15:10,039 --> 00:15:11,475 and hopefully established a relationship 344 00:15:11,518 --> 00:15:13,216 with some locals who we can now reach out to. 345 00:15:13,259 --> 00:15:14,478 - Great idea. 346 00:15:14,521 --> 00:15:16,480 - So we had some positive responses. 347 00:15:16,523 --> 00:15:18,264 And so people who were willing to help, right, 348 00:15:18,308 --> 00:15:19,657 because not everybody was a bad guy. 349 00:15:22,094 --> 00:15:26,142 There were some people on that video that moved around 350 00:15:26,185 --> 00:15:28,535 with a little bit more air of authority. 351 00:15:30,276 --> 00:15:33,192 They appear to be directing others on the compound. 352 00:15:33,236 --> 00:15:35,020 - Interesting. - And at some point, 353 00:15:35,064 --> 00:15:38,371 the FBI did put out a wanted poster 354 00:15:38,415 --> 00:15:40,939 based on the stills that were taken. 355 00:15:43,159 --> 00:15:45,248 As the pieces of the puzzle began to draw 356 00:15:45,291 --> 00:15:49,034 a clearer picture, one image came to the forefront 357 00:15:49,078 --> 00:15:50,775 of their possible ringleader. 358 00:15:50,818 --> 00:15:52,907 And that was Ahmed Abu Khattala, 359 00:15:52,951 --> 00:15:55,432 the leader of Ubaydah Bin Jarrah, or UBJ. 360 00:15:58,522 --> 00:16:00,524 - So you have potential ringleader. 361 00:16:00,567 --> 00:16:03,788 What, in your mind, did you guys wanna do? 362 00:16:03,831 --> 00:16:05,398 Can you arrest anybody? 363 00:16:05,442 --> 00:16:06,921 You know, it's not our country. 364 00:16:06,965 --> 00:16:09,620 - These cases are always difficult to do, even at home. 365 00:16:09,663 --> 00:16:11,100 But in this particular case, 366 00:16:11,143 --> 00:16:12,884 working in a hostile, non-permission environment, 367 00:16:12,927 --> 00:16:14,407 it wasn't the same old thing. 368 00:16:14,451 --> 00:16:16,322 But the first thing that the case agents did, 369 00:16:16,366 --> 00:16:18,194 along with their US attorney counterparts, 370 00:16:18,237 --> 00:16:19,891 they presented the case to the judge, 371 00:16:19,934 --> 00:16:22,198 who approved an arrest warrant for Abu Khattala. 372 00:16:24,635 --> 00:16:26,506 And in this particular case with Abu Khattala, 373 00:16:26,550 --> 00:16:28,073 it was gonna prove to be a little bit more difficult, 374 00:16:28,117 --> 00:16:30,119 not only in actually being able to do it, 375 00:16:30,162 --> 00:16:31,642 but challenging because you also 376 00:16:31,685 --> 00:16:32,991 have to know where they are. 377 00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:35,037 And he wasn't an easy individual to track. 378 00:16:39,693 --> 00:16:43,088 While in country, and while tracking Khattala, 379 00:16:43,132 --> 00:16:45,699 we also have some fidelity on Anas Al-Liby. 380 00:16:49,921 --> 00:16:53,142 Now, Al-Liby, as you know, was the individual indicted 381 00:16:53,185 --> 00:16:55,318 for his participation in the 1998 embassy bombings 382 00:16:55,361 --> 00:16:56,754 in Kenya and Tanzania. - Yes, yeah. 383 00:16:56,797 --> 00:16:58,930 - Resulted in the death of over 220 people. 384 00:16:58,973 --> 00:17:01,411 [sirens wailing] 385 00:17:01,454 --> 00:17:02,760 - [sobbing] 386 00:17:04,327 --> 00:17:06,851 - But approval wasn't given for both, 387 00:17:06,894 --> 00:17:08,199 a dual operation, 388 00:17:08,244 --> 00:17:09,810 a simultaneous capture operation 389 00:17:09,853 --> 00:17:12,291 of Al-Liby and Khattala. 390 00:17:12,334 --> 00:17:14,901 And so the decision was made to pursue Al-Liby. 391 00:17:17,166 --> 00:17:19,863 And after the capture operation 392 00:17:19,907 --> 00:17:22,257 becomes public on Al-Liby... 393 00:17:22,301 --> 00:17:25,696 - He is believed to have once been close to Osama bin Laden 394 00:17:25,738 --> 00:17:28,873 and is accused of playing a role in the 1998 bombings 395 00:17:28,916 --> 00:17:30,875 of two American embassies in Africa, 396 00:17:30,918 --> 00:17:33,007 which left more than 200 dead. 397 00:17:33,051 --> 00:17:36,359 - All chaos breaks loose on the streets of Libya. 398 00:17:36,402 --> 00:17:40,493 [indistinct chatter and singing] 399 00:17:40,537 --> 00:17:42,843 - Of course, because they're pissed off again. 400 00:17:42,887 --> 00:17:44,541 - It was a little too hot, and the US government, 401 00:17:44,584 --> 00:17:46,456 the officials weren't comfortable 402 00:17:46,499 --> 00:17:48,588 in authorizing that operation at that time. 403 00:17:48,632 --> 00:17:51,722 - So that put your arrest plan on hold, which wasn't helpful. 404 00:17:51,765 --> 00:17:53,811 - Well, it wasn't helpful that Khattala was free 405 00:17:53,854 --> 00:17:55,160 to move about, right? - Sure. 406 00:17:55,204 --> 00:17:57,031 - And it certainly wasn't helpful 407 00:17:57,075 --> 00:17:59,033 when he was sitting in a hotel lobby, 408 00:17:59,077 --> 00:18:01,732 sipping on his fruit juice, giving interviews. 409 00:18:01,775 --> 00:18:04,517 - We met with Ahmed Abu Khattala in public 410 00:18:04,561 --> 00:18:06,780 at the coffee shop of a well-known hotel 411 00:18:06,824 --> 00:18:09,783 here in Benghazi for around two hours. 412 00:18:09,827 --> 00:18:11,742 And he agreed to let us film audio 413 00:18:11,785 --> 00:18:14,179 but not video of our conversation. 414 00:18:14,223 --> 00:18:15,963 - He didn't implicate himself 415 00:18:16,007 --> 00:18:17,835 in any of the wrongdoing, right? 416 00:18:17,878 --> 00:18:21,752 But what he did say was, he was there that night, 417 00:18:21,795 --> 00:18:23,362 but he didn't participate. 418 00:18:23,406 --> 00:18:26,235 - [speaking Arabic] 419 00:18:28,106 --> 00:18:30,978 - [speaking Arabic] 420 00:18:39,073 --> 00:18:41,511 - As we look at this and try to say, 421 00:18:41,554 --> 00:18:43,861 well, can we get any good out of that? 422 00:18:43,904 --> 00:18:45,428 The truth of the matter is, yeah, 423 00:18:45,471 --> 00:18:47,169 because now we have Abu Khattala 424 00:18:47,212 --> 00:18:48,953 on film saying he was there. 425 00:18:48,996 --> 00:18:51,042 - He thinks he's gotten away with this. 426 00:18:51,085 --> 00:18:52,217 - It's almost like a mockery. 427 00:18:52,261 --> 00:18:55,220 For me, Abu Khattala's actions 428 00:18:55,264 --> 00:18:57,091 was thumbing his nose 429 00:18:57,135 --> 00:18:58,832 to US government... - US government, yeah. 430 00:18:58,876 --> 00:19:00,747 - To the acts of violence 431 00:19:00,791 --> 00:19:02,488 and the terrorism that he was a part of. 432 00:19:02,532 --> 00:19:04,925 Certainly wasn't a good look. 433 00:19:04,969 --> 00:19:06,840 But he wasn't free from being monitored. 434 00:19:10,279 --> 00:19:12,281 When he showed up, he gave us a starting point 435 00:19:12,324 --> 00:19:14,283 that we could continue to track his movements. 436 00:19:14,326 --> 00:19:17,155 Not only did we have something coming out of his own mouth, 437 00:19:17,199 --> 00:19:18,983 but we know where he is now. 438 00:19:19,026 --> 00:19:21,333 And so he may have felt comfortable, 439 00:19:21,377 --> 00:19:23,335 but we were certainly moving towards a day 440 00:19:23,379 --> 00:19:24,989 where he would not feel comfortable. 441 00:19:25,032 --> 00:19:27,513 It's not until a few months later 442 00:19:27,557 --> 00:19:31,517 where we start developing plans to execute the arrest warrant. 443 00:19:31,561 --> 00:19:35,826 And so the FBI case team worked hand in hand 444 00:19:35,869 --> 00:19:38,611 with their USIC counterparts, 445 00:19:38,655 --> 00:19:40,874 developed a source who can get close to Khattala. 446 00:19:43,834 --> 00:19:46,271 - Placement and access. - Placement and access. 447 00:19:46,315 --> 00:19:50,536 And eventually, an individual was identified who, 448 00:19:50,580 --> 00:19:54,148 based on his credibility in and around the Benghazi area, 449 00:19:54,192 --> 00:19:57,064 who was capable of getting close to Khattala 450 00:19:57,108 --> 00:20:00,590 and developing the finer points of a capture mission. 451 00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:02,374 - So was that source working well for-- 452 00:20:02,418 --> 00:20:04,071 - The source is doing a tremendous job, 453 00:20:04,115 --> 00:20:05,682 absolutely phenomenal job. 454 00:20:05,725 --> 00:20:08,293 As you know, these capture operations, 455 00:20:08,337 --> 00:20:09,816 meticulous planning is required. 456 00:20:09,860 --> 00:20:11,688 - Of course. It's gotta be all lined up. 457 00:20:11,731 --> 00:20:13,342 - One of the things the source was able to do 458 00:20:13,385 --> 00:20:15,344 was speak with Khattala 459 00:20:15,387 --> 00:20:17,998 and get him to visit a seaside villa. 460 00:20:21,959 --> 00:20:24,701 The idea that was being pitched was, 461 00:20:24,744 --> 00:20:27,094 Khattala could use this place as a safe house 462 00:20:27,138 --> 00:20:28,574 and a place to rest, 463 00:20:28,618 --> 00:20:31,403 because as powerful as he was, 464 00:20:31,447 --> 00:20:33,100 somebody always wants the crown. 465 00:20:33,144 --> 00:20:34,972 - Yeah. - So he was targeted as well. 466 00:20:35,015 --> 00:20:36,713 There were rival militia factions there 467 00:20:36,756 --> 00:20:38,192 that were not necessarily in line. 468 00:20:38,236 --> 00:20:39,977 - Yeah, he's not stupid. - Right, he's not stupid. 469 00:20:40,020 --> 00:20:41,108 He knows he has enemies. 470 00:20:41,152 --> 00:20:42,632 He agreed to it. 471 00:20:42,675 --> 00:20:45,287 And so with the capture operation now approved, 472 00:20:45,330 --> 00:20:46,636 the plan is put into motion. 473 00:20:48,725 --> 00:20:50,988 As arranged, the source meets Khattala, 474 00:20:51,031 --> 00:20:53,556 and they drive towards the seaside villa, 475 00:20:53,599 --> 00:20:55,035 about a 20 or 30-minute ride. 476 00:20:55,079 --> 00:20:56,559 - Nice. - It's nighttime. 477 00:20:56,602 --> 00:20:59,213 As they arrive, the source gets out of the vehicle, 478 00:20:59,257 --> 00:21:02,347 starts leading Khattala into the house, 479 00:21:02,391 --> 00:21:05,698 where US Special Operations Forces were inside and waiting. 480 00:21:05,742 --> 00:21:07,831 As Khattala entered into the home, 481 00:21:07,874 --> 00:21:10,355 he was engaged by our operators. 482 00:21:10,399 --> 00:21:12,966 Khattala was armed, and he was a big guy. 483 00:21:13,010 --> 00:21:14,707 And he fought back violently. 484 00:21:14,751 --> 00:21:17,362 But in short order, the operators were able 485 00:21:17,406 --> 00:21:20,234 to disarm him and get him under control. 486 00:21:20,278 --> 00:21:22,193 And that's when they effected the capture. 487 00:21:25,762 --> 00:21:29,200 On that night, US Special Operations Forces 488 00:21:29,243 --> 00:21:31,071 went fishing, 489 00:21:31,115 --> 00:21:32,334 and they caught a big fish. 490 00:21:34,901 --> 00:21:39,384 Eventually, the team moves towards the sea, 491 00:21:39,428 --> 00:21:41,865 where they get on a boat, and then they take a ride 492 00:21:41,908 --> 00:21:43,910 and connect with the USS New York out at sea. 493 00:21:46,739 --> 00:21:49,655 But the ship now is making its way back to the US. 494 00:21:49,699 --> 00:21:53,180 And while on the ship, they're conducting interviews. 495 00:21:53,224 --> 00:21:55,400 The first set of investigators have a different, 496 00:21:55,444 --> 00:21:57,054 more urgent mission. 497 00:21:57,097 --> 00:21:58,751 They're trying to figure out whether Khattala's 498 00:21:58,795 --> 00:22:02,668 involved with or knows of another imminent attack. 499 00:22:02,712 --> 00:22:06,063 When that kind of settles down, then the investigative team, 500 00:22:06,106 --> 00:22:08,326 who had been pursuing this relentlessly, 501 00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:10,023 they were next up on deck. 502 00:22:10,067 --> 00:22:11,938 And they began their interview process. 503 00:22:11,982 --> 00:22:13,375 But their objective, 504 00:22:13,418 --> 00:22:14,985 as you know, is totally different. 505 00:22:15,028 --> 00:22:17,640 They're trying to conduct an interview in such a way that-- 506 00:22:17,683 --> 00:22:19,293 - For the criminal prosecution. - For the criminal prosecution. 507 00:22:19,337 --> 00:22:20,338 - Yeah, sure, of course. - That's right. 508 00:22:20,382 --> 00:22:21,948 I'm at an off-site facility 509 00:22:21,992 --> 00:22:24,168 knowing that the operation is gonna go down. 510 00:22:24,211 --> 00:22:27,432 And they stayed focused and dedicated to their mission... 511 00:22:27,476 --> 00:22:28,607 - Sure. - Which is to develop 512 00:22:28,651 --> 00:22:31,088 the case and bring Khattala to justice. 513 00:22:33,699 --> 00:22:35,179 But why that day? 514 00:22:36,746 --> 00:22:38,008 And why this facility? 515 00:22:40,314 --> 00:22:42,229 During the course of the investigation, 516 00:22:42,273 --> 00:22:44,797 we determined that he believed 517 00:22:44,841 --> 00:22:47,409 that the special mission was an actual spy base. 518 00:22:49,019 --> 00:22:51,630 And so wanting to rid his city... 519 00:22:51,674 --> 00:22:53,719 - Of a spy base. - Of this American spy base, 520 00:22:53,763 --> 00:22:56,330 that-- - Was his motive. 521 00:22:56,374 --> 00:22:58,028 - His other motive was to kill Americans. 522 00:22:58,071 --> 00:22:59,943 And in fact, he said, if he could 523 00:22:59,986 --> 00:23:02,380 have killed more Americans, he would have. 524 00:23:30,408 --> 00:23:33,193 ♪ 525 00:23:33,237 --> 00:23:35,848 - Well, Ari, my hat's off to you guys and the team. 526 00:23:35,892 --> 00:23:37,067 - Thank you. - A year and a half, 527 00:23:37,110 --> 00:23:39,939 I mean, the guy is finally captured alive 528 00:23:39,983 --> 00:23:41,375 so he can face prosecution. 529 00:23:41,419 --> 00:23:45,075 - It's a tremendous feeling of satisfaction. 530 00:23:45,118 --> 00:23:47,817 All the hard work, not only for me personally, 531 00:23:47,860 --> 00:23:50,384 but a tremendous relief for those who survived 532 00:23:50,428 --> 00:23:51,298 and for the families. - And the families. 533 00:23:51,342 --> 00:23:52,735 - And this investigation, 534 00:23:52,778 --> 00:23:56,521 it doesn't end with the capture of Abu Khattala. 535 00:23:56,565 --> 00:23:59,089 It continues on for those who are responsible 536 00:23:59,132 --> 00:24:00,264 for the deaths of the Americans.