Thread: American teacher shot dead in Benghazi

American teacher shot dead in Libya's Benghazi

Esam Mohamed, Associated Press1:46 p.m. EST December 5, 2013


(Photo: Abdullah Doma, AFP/Getty Images)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Libya: American teacher shot to death while jogging in Benghazi
• A security official says the American taught chemistry at the city's International School
• No one has claimed responsibility for the teacher's killing

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Unknown assailants shot an American teacher to death as he was jogging on Thursday in Benghazi, Libyan and U.S. officials said, underlining persistently tenuous security in the eastern Libyan city where the U.S. ambassador was killed last year.

Fadyah al-Burghathi, spokeswoman for the Al-Galaa hospital, said the body of a man from Texas was brought to the hospital on Thursday with gunshot wounds. A security official said the American taught chemistry at the city's International School, a Libyan-owned institute that follows an American curriculum.

A U.S. State Department spokeswoman confirmed that an American citizen was shot and killed in Benghazi. Marie Harf said the State Department was in contact with the family but did not provide further details.

NBC News and CBS News are reporting that the victim is Ronnie Smith, 33, of Texas.

No one has claimed responsibility for the teacher's killing but suspicion is likely to fall on Islamic militants active in the city.

The security official, Ibrahim al-Sharaa, said the American was jogging near the compound where the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed by Islamic militants in September 2012.

The American was one of four people killed in Benghazi today and whose bodies were taken to the Al-Galaa hospital, showing the dangers of a city that is home to numerous armed groups resisting the central government's authority. The other three were military personnel.

Libya's heavily armed militias, with roots in the 2011 war against dictator Moammar Gadhafi, have proliferated since his overthrow. They have since undermined successive transitional governments and parliament.

Libyan security forces clashed in Benghazi last month with Ansar al-Shariah, a hard-line Islamist militia blamed for the attack on the diplomatic mission. Ansar al-Shariah faces a backlash from residents who have marched against it both in Benghazi and, in recent days, in its stronghold in the eastern city of Darna.

With frequent attacks on public figures and security officials, much of the lawlessness is blamed on the groups. But the government also relies on many of them to provide security in the absence of a functioning police force.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/w...acher/3877169/

Carney on Death of U.S. Teacher in Benghazi: ‘We Expect the Libyan Government to Investigate This’
by
BRIDGET JOHNSON

December 5, 2013 - 1:14 pm

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that they’re leaving the investigation of an American teacher shot in Benghazi up to the Libyans.

The Libya Herald reported that chemistry teacher Ronnie Smith, 33, was running on Dubai Street in Benghazi’s Digadosta district when he was shot multiple times. According to witnesses, Smith was approached by a black SUV that “drove up to him and retreated several times before shots were fired from the vehicle.”

Smith had lived in Benghazi for 13 months with his wife and their 2-year old while teaching at Benghazi International School. His wife had flown back to America a few weeks ago and Smith was due to join them in Texas for Christmas, the Herald reported.

“The State Department has issued a travel warning that’s been in place for sometime about — warning Americans about the dangers of traveling in Libya. You know, so for greater detail on how those assessments are made and why, I would refer you to the State Department,” Carney told reporters at the daily briefing.

“We do expect the Libyan government to investigate this. At this point, we don’t have very much information to share about who is responsible or how it happened or why,” he added. “But we certainly do expect the Libyans to investigate.”

The Herald reported that authorities were trying to ascertain whether the motive was terrorism or robbery. Libyan officials have been mounting a concerted offensive against militants in recent weeks, with escalated fighting in Benghazi a couple weeks ago in which residents were even offering guns and ammo to the military to help them drive out terrorist groups.

In a statement posted over the weekend, American al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn urged Libyans to conduct attacks in revenge for the seizure of Abu Anas al-Libi.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed that Smith was killed.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, friends and loved ones. We are in contact with the family and are providing all appropriate consular assistance,” she said. “Out of the respect for the privacy of those affected, I don’t have a lot of further details at this time. For questions on the investigation, of course, we’d refer everyone to the Libyan authorities.”

“…As everyone knows, there are pretty severe travel warnings in effect for Libya, particularly Benghazi. But we don’t keep track of American citizens in that way, obviously, operating overseas.”

Harf said the State Department doesn’t have an idea of how many Americans might be living in Benghazi.
“Again, our travel warning is very explicit in advising against all travel to this area. That’s sort of what we can do, is advise our citizens, and then it’s up to people individually to make decisions. I just don’t have any way to characterize it,” she said. “…I’d, in terms of an investigation, refer you to the Libyan authorities. We are working with those authorities to ascertain the facts related to the case, which, again, there are a lot of unknowns right now, because this tragedy occurred just recently today. So we’ll update folks as we get more.”

Meanwhile, Libyans reached out on Twitter to console Smith’s family and each other.

Rahman Bader @RahmanBader
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The main thing about Mr.Smith was he was the only one who didnt give up on us. Its time we dont give up on us either.

Read more tweets at link.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/12/05...estigate-this/