Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the alleged leader behind the Benghazi attacks in Libya, was captured this weekend by U.S. forces.

Rumored to have a major role in planning and executing the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012 that resulted in the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, Abu Khatallah has denied involvement in the attacks on the compound. However, several reports – including the New York Times 2013 investigation of the attack – quote witnesses placing Abu Khatallah on the scene.

Until now, U.S. efforts to capture Abu Khatallah have failed – a shortcoming that has been widely publicized after discovering that Abu Khatallah and granted several interviews with major U.S. media outlets since 2012, including CNN.

“For a suspected terrorist, who may have been involved in the murder of four Americans, he’s really not that difficult to find,” said Arwa Dawson, the CNN reporter who interviewed Abu Khatallah. 

According to a profile of Abu Khatallah in the Washington Post, the Benghazi native spent many years in jail under the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Although he denies involvement with the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, he does admit that he was there on the compound – only that he arrived later.

“When we withdrew, there was shooting with medium guns,” said Abu Khatallah in the audio interview with CNN, “…people panicked and we tried to control traffic.” 

Following Abu Khatallah’s capture, Secretary of State John Kerry claimed it as a victory for the United States.

“[W]e have also been focused on another mission of unfinished business: bringing to justice the terrorist murderers responsible for the attacks in Benghazi,” said Secretary Kerry in a statement on Tuesday. “…[Abu Khatallah’s capture] by the superb United States military is a clear reminder to anyone who dares do us harm that they will not escape with impunity.”

The time and location of Abu Khatallah’s trial has yet to be released.