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| US agents quiz fraudster over links to anti-Islam movie that led to murder | US agents quiz fraudster over links to anti-Islam movie that led to murder |
| (10 days later) | |
| A US "film-maker" linked to an anti-Islamic movie that has sparked deadly riots across the Middle East, claiming the lives of the US ambassador to Libya as well as a number of others, has been questioned by federal probation officers in Los Angeles. | A US "film-maker" linked to an anti-Islamic movie that has sparked deadly riots across the Middle East, claiming the lives of the US ambassador to Libya as well as a number of others, has been questioned by federal probation officers in Los Angeles. |
| As violence in cities across the Muslim world appeared to be dying down, convicted fraudster Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was interviewed over suspected breaches of his parole conditions relating to his use of computers. | As violence in cities across the Muslim world appeared to be dying down, convicted fraudster Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was interviewed over suspected breaches of his parole conditions relating to his use of computers. |
| Federal authorities have identified Nakoula, a self-described Coptic Christian, as the key figure behind Innocence of Muslims, a film denigrating Islam and the Prophet Muhammad that has ignited mob violence against US embassies across the Middle East. | Federal authorities have identified Nakoula, a self-described Coptic Christian, as the key figure behind Innocence of Muslims, a film denigrating Islam and the Prophet Muhammad that has ignited mob violence against US embassies across the Middle East. |
| Yesterday the same video was also linked by a Taliban spokesman to its attempted attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, home base of Prince Harry, during which two US Marines and 18 militants were killed. | Yesterday the same video was also linked by a Taliban spokesman to its attempted attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, home base of Prince Harry, during which two US Marines and 18 militants were killed. |
| A federal law enforcement official told Associated Press on Thursday that authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film. | A federal law enforcement official told Associated Press on Thursday that authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film. |
| Violent protests set off by the film in Libya played a role in mob attacks in Benghazi that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials. US Embassy gates in Cairo were breached by protesters and demonstrations against American missions spread to Yemen on Thursday and on Friday to several other countries. | Violent protests set off by the film in Libya played a role in mob attacks in Benghazi that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials. US Embassy gates in Cairo were breached by protesters and demonstrations against American missions spread to Yemen on Thursday and on Friday to several other countries. |
| Nakoula pleaded no contest in 2010 to federal bank fraud charges in California, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison in 2010 and ordered not to use computers or the internet for five years without approval from his probation officer. | Nakoula pleaded no contest in 2010 to federal bank fraud charges in California, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison in 2010 and ordered not to use computers or the internet for five years without approval from his probation officer. |
| The questioning of Nakoula, who was pictured being escorted to a police car by several deputies with a scarf around his face, comes as Libyan investigators disclosed that they were hunting a group of approximately a dozen armed militants they blame for the killing last week of Stevens in Benghazi. | The questioning of Nakoula, who was pictured being escorted to a police car by several deputies with a scarf around his face, comes as Libyan investigators disclosed that they were hunting a group of approximately a dozen armed militants they blame for the killing last week of Stevens in Benghazi. |
| Amid reports in American media that point to the involvement of the Benghazi-based brigade, Ansar al-Sharia, local officials say they have launched a nationwide manhunt. | Amid reports in American media that point to the involvement of the Benghazi-based brigade, Ansar al-Sharia, local officials say they have launched a nationwide manhunt. |
| "The people we are looking for, there were about 12 to 14 guys," said Abdul Shihaibi, an intelligence officer with Libyan State Security. "We are searching for them. We think in a few days we will be done with the investigation." | "The people we are looking for, there were about 12 to 14 guys," said Abdul Shihaibi, an intelligence officer with Libyan State Security. "We are searching for them. We think in a few days we will be done with the investigation." |
| Four days after the attacks on the consulate and a second accommodation compound left Stevens and three more US diplomats dead, a more detailed picture of the assault is emerging. | Four days after the attacks on the consulate and a second accommodation compound left Stevens and three more US diplomats dead, a more detailed picture of the assault is emerging. |
| Libyan investigators say witnesses and mobile phone footage indicate that the attackers, armed with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, used the riot as cover for the attack. | Libyan investigators say witnesses and mobile phone footage indicate that the attackers, armed with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, used the riot as cover for the attack. |
| "Some people came in a special car to Benghazi, they covered their faces," said Shihaibi. He said the leader of Ansar al-Sharia had denied responsibility but brigade personnel remain under the spotlight. | "Some people came in a special car to Benghazi, they covered their faces," said Shihaibi. He said the leader of Ansar al-Sharia had denied responsibility but brigade personnel remain under the spotlight. |
| This was confirmed by the head of the Benghazi Special Security Committee, the national gendarmerie, Fawzi Yunis Gaddafi, jailed by the former regime despite coming from the same tribe as the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He said he viewed mobile phone footage: "We saw them (Ansar al-Sharia), some of them." | This was confirmed by the head of the Benghazi Special Security Committee, the national gendarmerie, Fawzi Yunis Gaddafi, jailed by the former regime despite coming from the same tribe as the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He said he viewed mobile phone footage: "We saw them (Ansar al-Sharia), some of them." |
| The al-Sharia brigade remains barricaded behind the heavy iron gates of its Benghazi compound, refusing to meet journalists. "It was pre-planned – 100%" said Iusef Magarief, president of the newly elected national congress. | The al-Sharia brigade remains barricaded behind the heavy iron gates of its Benghazi compound, refusing to meet journalists. "It was pre-planned – 100%" said Iusef Magarief, president of the newly elected national congress. |
| Four suspects have been arrested but their identities are being kept secret, part of a disjointed investigation that is symptomatic of the chaos that continues a year after the revolution. What evidence there might have been at the consulate has been trampled by sightseers. Two wounded attackers are being treated in a city hospital but have not been interviewed, with local police fearing to confront the Sharia militia who stand guard around the building. And Libya has yet to give permission for an FBI team dispatched to Libya to work in Benghazi. | Four suspects have been arrested but their identities are being kept secret, part of a disjointed investigation that is symptomatic of the chaos that continues a year after the revolution. What evidence there might have been at the consulate has been trampled by sightseers. Two wounded attackers are being treated in a city hospital but have not been interviewed, with local police fearing to confront the Sharia militia who stand guard around the building. And Libya has yet to give permission for an FBI team dispatched to Libya to work in Benghazi. |
| But anxiety about the attack is everywhere in this city. "It is chaos, only chaos, we need the United Nations here," said Mailand Saad, a local businessman. "We need to defeat these bloody people, these extremists." | But anxiety about the attack is everywhere in this city. "It is chaos, only chaos, we need the United Nations here," said Mailand Saad, a local businessman. "We need to defeat these bloody people, these extremists." |
| More than 600 community leaders gathered on Saturday at a conference, the Committee of the Wise People of Benghazi, to promise help in finding the militants. Conference organiser Alem Ali said leaders had agreed a joint demand that rogue militias must surrender or be disarmed by force. "If they do not join legitimate armed forces, the tribes have authorised the government to take action." | More than 600 community leaders gathered on Saturday at a conference, the Committee of the Wise People of Benghazi, to promise help in finding the militants. Conference organiser Alem Ali said leaders had agreed a joint demand that rogue militias must surrender or be disarmed by force. "If they do not join legitimate armed forces, the tribes have authorised the government to take action." |
| Sulaiman Mohammed, dressed in the traditional white robe, white and embroidered gold waistcoat and red fez, said tribal leaders had agreed to hunt terrorists in their midst. "It's a bad thing and cowardly people did this. I tell you, the killer is here, and he will be found." | Sulaiman Mohammed, dressed in the traditional white robe, white and embroidered gold waistcoat and red fez, said tribal leaders had agreed to hunt terrorists in their midst. "It's a bad thing and cowardly people did this. I tell you, the killer is here, and he will be found." |
| There is anxiety about unilateral American action, amid reports that the Obama administration is under pressure to show determination with a presidential election looming. "We know the pressure on Mr Obama, there is the election, there is Romney and the Republicans [demanding action]." said Salah Jehuda, a prominent local MP who worked as a business analyst in Washington. He said a US strike on militants in Libya could inflame nationalist sentiment. | There is anxiety about unilateral American action, amid reports that the Obama administration is under pressure to show determination with a presidential election looming. "We know the pressure on Mr Obama, there is the election, there is Romney and the Republicans [demanding action]." said Salah Jehuda, a prominent local MP who worked as a business analyst in Washington. He said a US strike on militants in Libya could inflame nationalist sentiment. |
| "There should be action, but not by the Americans. Maybe it [American action] would solve it in 48 hours, but the fact of foreign forces on the ground creates another problem," he said. | "There should be action, but not by the Americans. Maybe it [American action] would solve it in 48 hours, but the fact of foreign forces on the ground creates another problem," he said. |
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