Terrorist gunmen stormed a five-star hotel in Libya on the morning of January 27 and killed nine people including one American before blowing themselves up. The American has been identified as former U.S. Marine David Berry, who had been working in Libya as a security contractor.
Here’s what you should know about Berry and the terrorists who murdered him:
1. Berry Was Shot in the Head
Berry was first named by the New York Daily News, who spoke to Berry’s boss, Cliff Taylor. Taylor is the CEO of security company Crucible. Taylor told the News, “Our company was unfortunately a victim of the terrorist event. We would like to extend out extraordinary condolences to the family of our employees as we mourn their loss with them.” On the company’s Facebook page, Team-Crucible is described as a non-government organization that is a “preeminent provider of high-risk environment security management, operations and training for employees of the U.S. government.”
2. In the Marines, Berry Was an Anti-Terror Specialist
According to his LinkedIn page, Berry was a U.S. Marine from September 2000 to 2012. Since July 2014, he was based in Tripoli, working in security. His page includes this description of his exploits: “He has worked in highly dynamic, challenging, and fluid environments often in hostile and austere locations throughout the world.” During his time in the Marines, Berry specialized in anti-terror tactics. His page states that he has worked for numerous security companies since leaving the service.
3. Nine Victims Died in the Attack
In total, nine victims were killed in the attack. Reuters reports that the assault began on the morning of January 27. Gunmen blasted their way through the posh Corinthia Hotel, eventually making their way to the 24th floor, which the AFP describes as a “major hub of diplomatic and government activity.” After the initial attack, a car bomb exploded, impacting hotel guests and staff who were trying to escape. As guards closed in, the gunmen blew themselves up. Reuters reports the terrorists detonated a grenade, while AFP reports they detonated “explosive belts.” In addition to Berry, the other victims are four Libyans, a French citizen, two Filipinos and a South Korean.
4. An ISIS-Inspired Group Claimed Responsibility, Citing Revenge for the Accused Embassy Bomber Who Died This Month in New York
The terrorist monitoring group SITE Intelligence says that a group known as the Islamic State in Tripoli Provincehas claimed responsibility for the attack. SITE named two of the attackers as Abu Ibrahim al-Tunisi and Abu Suleiman al-Sudani.
The group claims the attack was revenge for the death of accused al-Qaida operative Abu Anas al-Libi. Libi, charged with involvement in the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, died in a New York hospital this month while awaiting trial.
5. The Corinthia Hotel Attack Brings Back Memories of Benghazi
This is the first major attack on foreign nationals in Libya since the September 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans. The group Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility for that attack.