William Bultemeier
The alleged killer of an American diplomat has been captured in Mali, following his escape from prison earlier this year.
The alleged killer of an American diplomat has been captured in Mali, following his escape from prison earlier this year.
Alhassane Ould Mohamed (aka “Cheibani”) was serving a 20-year sentence in a Niger prison for murdering four tourists from Saudi Arabia in 2009. But an attack by Islamic militants allowed Cheibani and 21 other inmates to flee.
He was recaptured by French soldiers in northern Mali on Tuesday.
Following Cheibani’s breakout from prison in June, the U.S. government revealed an indictment (pdf) for his arrest for allegedly murdering diplomat William Bultemeier 13 years ago.
Bultemeier, a Department of Defense employee assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Niger, was shot to death in the capital city of Niamey as he left a restaurant with colleagues in December 2000. Armed with a handgun and an AK-47 assault rifle, Cheibani and an accomplice accosted the group. Bultemeier was shot by Cheibani, and again by the accomplice, after Cheibani demanded the keys to his U.S. Embassy SUV.
Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, the embassy’s U.S. Marines detachment commander, was also shot in the incident by the accomplice. McNeely survived the attack and later retired from the service.
The U.S. offered a reward of $20,000 in September for information leading to Cheibani’s capture.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
To Learn More:
Malian Fugitive 'Cheibani' Recaptured by French Troops (BBC News)
Malian National Indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court for Murder of U.S. Diplomat (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
United States v. Alhassane Ould Mohamed (U.S. District Court, Eastern New York) (pdf)
(aka “Cheibani”) was serving a 20-year sentence in a Niger prison for murdering four tourists from Saudi Arabia in 2009. But an attack by Islamic militants allowed Cheibani and 21 other inmates to flee.
He was recaptured by French soldiers in northern Mali on Tuesday.
Following Cheibani’s breakout from prison in June, the U.S. government revealed an indictment (pdf) for his arrest for allegedly murdering diplomat William Bultemeier 13 years ago.
Bultemeier, a Department of Defense employee assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Niger, was shot to death in the capital city of Niamey as he left a restaurant with colleagues in December 2000. Armed with a handgun and an AK-47 assault rifle, Cheibani and an accomplice accosted the group. Bultemeier was shot by Cheibani, and again by the accomplice, after Cheibani demanded the keys to his U.S. Embassy SUV.
Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher McNeely, the embassy’s U.S. Marines detachment commander, was also shot in the incident by the accomplice. McNeely survived the attack and later retired from the service.
The U.S. offered a reward of $20,000 in September for information leading to Cheibani’s capture.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
To Learn More:
Malian Fugitive 'Cheibani' Recaptured by French Troops (BBC News)
Malian National Indicted in Brooklyn Federal Court for Murder of U.S. Diplomat (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
United States v. Alhassane Ould Mohamed (U.S. District Court, Eastern New York) (pdf)
Comments