22 Sep 2012

US believes Benghazi attack linked to al-Qaeda

10:34 am on 22 September 2012

The White House says last week's deadly assault on the United States diplomatic mission in the Libyan city of Benghazi was a terrorist attack by militants who may have had al-Qaeda ties.

The attack, in which the US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens died, was originally linked to the international outbreak of protest against an American film mocking Islam, AFP reports.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney says the best information the US government now has is that what happened in Benghazi was a terrorist attack.

It happened on the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the US.