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American Shot to Death in Libya US Consulate Attack

Sep. 11, 2012 10:28pm
American Killed at US Consulate in Libya Following Protest at US Embassy in Egypt

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. An armed mob protesting over a film they said offended Islam, attacked the US consulate in Benghazi and set fire to the building, killing one American, witnesses and officials said. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

CAIRO (TheBlaze/AP) — Protesters angered over a film that ridiculed Islam’s Prophet Muhammad fired gunshots and burned down the U.S. consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing one American diplomat, witnesses and the State Department said. In Egypt, protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. embassy in Cairo and replaced an American flag with an Islamic banner.

It was the first such assaults on U.S. diplomatic facilities in either country, at a time when both Libya and Egypt are struggling to overcome the turmoil following the ouster of their longtime leaders, Moammar Gadhafi and Hosni Mubarak in uprisings last year.

The protests in both countries were sparked by outrage over a film ridiculing Muhammad produced by an American in California and being promoted by an extreme anti-Muslim Egyptian Christian campaigner in the United States. Excerpts from the film dubbed into Arabic were posted on YouTube.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton confirmed that one State Department officer had been killed in the protest at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. She strongly condemned the attack and said she had called Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif “to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya.”

Clinton expressed concern that the protests might spread to other countries. She said the U.S. is working with “partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.”

In Benghazi, a large mob stormed the U.S. consulate, with gunmen firing their weapons, said Wanis al-Sharef, an Interior Ministry official in Benghazi. A witness said attackers fired automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades at the consulate as they clashed with Libyans hired to guard the facility.

American Killed at US Consulate in Libya Following Protest at US Embassy in Egypt

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. An armed mob protesting over a film they said offended Islam, attacked the US consulate in Benghazi and set fire to the building, killing one American, witnesses and officials said. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

American Killed at US Consulate in Libya Following Protest at US Embassy in Egypt

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. An armed mob protesting over a film they said offended Islam, attacked the US consulate in Benghazi and set fire to the building, killing one American, witnesses and officials said. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Outnumbered by the crowd, Libyan security forces did little to stop them, al-Sharef said.

The crowd overwhelmed the facility and set fire to it, burning most of it and looting the contents, witnesses said.

One American was shot to death and a second was wounded in the hand, al-Sharef said. He did not give further details.

The violence at the consulate lasted for about three hours, but the situation has now quieted down, said another witness.

“I heard nearly 10 explosions and all kinds of weapons. It was a terrifying day,” said the witness who refused to give his name because he feared retaliation.

Hours before the Benghazi attack, hundreds of mainly ultraconservative Islamist protesters in Egypt marched to the U.S. Embassy in downtown Cairo, gathering outside its walls and chanting against the movie and the U.S. Most of the embassy staff had left the compound earlier because of warnings of the upcoming demonstration.

“Say it, don’t fear: Their ambassador must leave,” the crowd chanted.

Dozens of protesters then scaled the embassy walls, and several went into the courtyard and took down the American flag from a pole. They brought it back to the crowd outside, which tried to burn it, but failing that tore it apart.

The protesters on the wall then raised on the flagpole a black flag with a Muslim declaration of faith, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet.” The flag, similar to the banner used by al-Qaida, is commonly used by ultraconservatives around the region.

The crowd grew throughout the evening with thousands standing outside the embassy. Dozens of riot police lined up along the embassy walls but did not stop protesters as they continued to climb and stand on the wall – though it appeared no more went into the compound.

The crowd chanted, “Islamic, Islamic. The right of our prophet will not die.” Some shouted, “We are all Osama,” referring to al-Qaida leader bin Laden. Young men, some in masks, sprayed graffiti on the walls. Some grumbled that Islamist President Mohammed Morsi had not spoken out about the movie.

A group of women in black veils and robes that left only their eyes exposed chanted, “Worshippers of the Cross, leave the Prophet Muhammad alone.”

By midnight, the crowd had dwindled. The U.S. Embassy said on its Twitter account that there will be no visa services on Wednesday because of the protests.

 

This story has been updated.

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Comments (67)

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  • Freebird
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:15pm

    If this doesn’t make your blood boil-nothing will

    The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims β€” as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others

    Report this comment

    Freebird  
    • Action-Not-Just_Words
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 1:10am

      Ok… Blood has been boiling all day since I heard the above statement, now what?

      Report this comment

      Action-Not-Just_Words  
    • TIME_THE_AVENGER
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 3:40am

      Storm their embassy here, of course. Hold them ‘hostage’ for 444 days. They’ll end up loving it here and never wanna walk like an Egyptian again. Luxor, here we come.

      Report this comment

      TIME_THE_AVENGER  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 5:31am

      “The U.S. Embassy said on its Twitter account that there will be no visa services on Wednesday because of the protests.”

      Business as usual by the chickens at the state department. Some one is murdered & another is seriously wounded & they won’t stop handing out visas for a week or a month?

      Maybe if they did the somewhat pro-Americans would stand up to the anti-Americans to at least get their stuff (i.e. visas).

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 5:35am

      Our embassy was burned to the ground in Pakistan around 1979. These events are always instigated by some iman.

      If the government of these countries do overtly prosecute these imans in a court of law or covertly disappear them, then their actions are without liability to them. They have no reason to stop because there is never a downside for them. We can expect more of the same.

      Report this comment

      Walkabout  
  • thibx
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:13pm

    every time a plane took off to help these sob it cost us 1 million this is what they do to thank us. i agree with krauthammer let them all go to hell. we all should make a movie about islam and put on you tube. the devils religion.

    Report this comment

    thibx  
  • Delores at CH WV
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:12pm

    Is this one of the Libya’s Fast and Furious Guns that Hillary, Obama, and John McCain gave them? I suggest that the family seek a lawyer ASAP. They will never get the truth from this dishonest government.

    Congress: How many troops are fighting in foreign lands; how many governments have been given money from Hillary to supply wars? Someone in the Senate or House needs to call for an investigation on how much money has been given to our enemies that call for our deaths!!! It is a treasonable act to support our enemies by giving them arms and billions of dollars to set up government to kill us. The US Constitution states that it is a duty to provide security for the citizens of the US.
    Well, just who’s duty is it? Empty chair? Senators and Congressman?
    Do you know? Do you care? It is time to find out who is running our country especially our US Treasury? It is not Tiny Tim.

    Report this comment

    Delores at CH WV  
  • DSTSS2010
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:12pm

    Barack Hussien Obama=Jimmie Carter!

    Report this comment

    DSTSS2010  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:05pm

    Make no mistake about it this is part of the OIC’s 10-year plan to orchestrate these Days of Rage in these Islamic countries to shut us up in the West. This is the way they are going to implement Sharia in Western Civilization. And this BO-Clinton’s contemptuous and weak response to what happened at the Egyptian U.S. Embassy today has precipitated a more agregious attack on the U.S. Embassy in Syria.

    It’s time for this BO-Clinton regime to get a backbone. Of course, this is unlikely to happen because they’ve never had one.

    Make no mistake about it, they, and the OIC (Organization of Islamic “Cooperation” aka Conference) are completely responsible for the death of this American.

    Report this comment

    SilentReader  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:59pm

    If this article was about Romney/Ryan’s alleged proposals to downsize the food stamp program, I suspect our Lefty friends would be here howling bloody murder for those “victimized Americans”. Actual victims of murder of Americans by the enemies of America……….. not such a biggie.

    Report this comment

    MODEL82A1  
  • Wildblue3
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:57pm

    Personally, I see this as a swan song for Obama. There is NO way that Obama can spin this for the better. Arabs have show that they are the enemy and to keep on placating them makes not sense

    Report this comment

    Wildblue3  
    • stm62
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:35pm

      Never overestimate the intelligence of a large segment of the electorate.

      Report this comment

      stm62  
  • De minimus
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:56pm

    Thank you citizen Obama.

    Report this comment

    De minimus  
  • asybot12
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:56pm

    How long has Beck been forecasting this: ” they will drag you onto the streets and kill you”. Like some of you have said the sooner we get the hell out of there the better . Develop our own energy which under “war” conditions would take a few years and put millions to work, talk about shovel ready they are screaming for people all over Western Canada to develop gas, pipelines etc.. Let’s do an Alaska style highway project!

    Report this comment

    asybot12  
  • Kankokage
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:55pm

    Is this what democracy looks like?

    THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!

    Report this comment

    Kankokage  
  • Freebird
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:50pm

    Wow,half of the article just disappeared.
    There were some interesting things taken out I was going to comment on.
    Oh well,I guess Jay(Carney or Leno),will be sure to let us know what this all means.

    Report this comment

    Freebird  
  • copatriots
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:49pm

    Welcome to 0bama’s Progressive World

    Report this comment

     
  • III Percent
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:48pm

    OCTOBER SURPRISE in September folks.

    Report this comment

    III Percent  
    • De minimus
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:59pm

      It never happened because the media won’t report it. Place in context, this is citizen Obama’s fault.

      Report this comment

      De minimus  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:48pm

    Anybody other than me get the feeling we are about to see a major power shift in the are of the Middle East? I feel this is just the opening move in the next stage for the Arab Spring on the way to the Caliphate.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • copatriots
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:57pm

      Yep, SNOW, feel it too! Feels like the beginning of the end.

      Stay safe down there!

      Report this comment

       
    • momrules
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:58pm

      You’re right SNOW. Just in one day, on 9-11 no less, there are two attacks on America and Obama rebuffs Netanyahu. What message did Obama send his friends in Egypt and the ME with that insult to Israel.

      Report this comment

      momrules  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:14pm

      Right after the Dems denied GOD and ISRAEL .. THREE times … oh yea .. things are going to get worse .. pray .. and VOTE….

      Report this comment

      CatB  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:48pm

    All we have to do is crawl into Ron Paul’s crumby basement and all this torment from our “neo-conservative (i.e. Jew) manufactured enemies” will become accolades from our peaceful, trusted allies.
    Now, anyone who agreed with the above, please meet in Dr. Paul’s basement tomorrow at 8:00 PM local time. We have the coordinates.

    Report this comment

    MODEL82A1  
  • v15
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:46pm

    With the exception of drone strikes, I think it’s time for us to get out of the Middle East with the exception of giving aid to Israel in any way that we can. These Muslim countries will start uniting and then we’ll have another world war on our hands. There’s nothing we can do for these people, so let’s cut off all foreign aid to the Arabs and stop trying to drag them into the 21st century.

    Despite two embassies getting ransacked, I think it’s good that some people are willing to expose Islam for what it truly is. We’ve been coddling these Muslims for too long with our political correctness.

    Report this comment

    v15  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:55pm

      and lets also stop giving billions of american taxpayer dollars to these countries while our government is trying to gut our military………get armed people !!!

      Report this comment

      oldguy49  
  • WarMunger_Al
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:43pm

    Time to pull all diplomats out of these third world turd holes and decimate them if they attack here. No more time to play nice with people that act like rabid monkeys.

    Report this comment

    WarMunger_Al  
  • glassbender
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:43pm

    “The U.S. Embassy said on its Twitter account that there will be no visa services on Wednesday because of the protests.” What the hell are they thinking? American needs to call for all Americans to leave these countries, close the consulates and stop sending $$$. These people are NOT our friends!

    Report this comment

    glassbender  
  • cmccone
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:43pm

    Exactly why do we still send these uncivilized animals our money? For those saying we need to share democracy, our system of government and economics will NOT work in these countries. A civil society is needed and they do not have an educated and civil society. A great breakdown of this can be found in the book, Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin.

    Report this comment

    cmccone  
    • drs1969
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 11:02pm

      It’s the OIL… Quadafi remained in power for 20+ years after the Lockerbie and disco bombings. Then he said he was going to sell his his oil to China and Russia and not honor his western contracts. War broke out there the next week. CIA no doubt helped the rebels greatly.

      Report this comment

      drs1969  
  • trueblueday
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:42pm

    Wonder if Barry will talk about this on David Letterman.

    Report this comment

    trueblueday  
  • U.N.hater
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:42pm

    This has been done to celebrate 911 the movie is just an excuse. Today on 911 our government said sorry for offend’ing Islam. Not one word from you know who. This should pi$$ off every american. We better start stand’ing up!

    Report this comment

    U.N.hater  
  • momrules
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:41pm

    Obama will issue apologies. The Muslims will continue their murder.

    I have never despised another human being as much as I do Obama and I have never hated an entity as much as I HATE Islam.

    Report this comment

    momrules  
    • copatriots
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:59pm

      You are not alone in that hatred! Thankfully and mercifully, God gives us permission to hate sin as well as those who hate Him and His ways!

      Report this comment

       
    • TIME_THE_AVENGER
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 3:45am

      I can’t wait for the righteous retribution , Mom. Let’s show these BASTARDS once and for all just where the bear crapped in the buckwheat. OoooooTaaaayyyyyy !!!!

      Report this comment

      TIME_THE_AVENGER  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:36pm

    Damn our mulatto in chief’s going to start WW III with his Arab spring BS,see what you started Barry?
    The destroyer of nations is just getting started and if he’s inflicted on us for four more years it’ll be many many more years of hell on earth.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:33pm

    It’s so comforting to have a Paulesque, National-Defense-Hating Anti-Semite as CiC. It’s making America a more secure place. Idiots.

    Report this comment

    MODEL82A1  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:32pm

    Yep – democarcy in acttion – they love us now…. Peace thru weakness works out really well.

    Report this comment

    kaydeebeau  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on September 11, 2012 at 10:42pm

      But, but, but, this is a secular, peaceful uprising, the muslim brotherhood loves us. Besides, I think I heard this in Wisconsin, “This is what Democracy looks like”.

      By the way, I guess we made a movie that offended them, and it was the 9-11 aniversary, which has nothing to do with this, just a quinky dink.

      Report this comment

      Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
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