Sources tracking militant Islamist groups in eastern Libya say a pro-al-Qaida group behind an assault earlier this summer on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi may be responsible for Tuesday’s attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other diplomats, CNN reported.
The group, the Imprisoned Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades, claimed responsibility in May for an attack on the International Red Cross office in Benghazi, and in June for an explosion outside the U.S. Consulate. The group later released a video of the attack, according to CNN.
Officials pointed out that Tuesday’s attack followed a call from al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri for revenge for the death of a senior Libyan member of the terror group, Abu Yahya al-Libi, according to CNN. The attacks also coincided with the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
U.S. government officials believe Tuesday’s attacks may have been planned, according to news reports on Wednesday, and are investigating several other suspects.
Following the attacks, the Pentagon dispatched a group of Marines on Wednesday to Libya to reinforce security, according to the Associated Press.
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