Libyan militant faces detention hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Libyan militant now in U.S. custody in the Benghazi attacks faces a court appearance where federal prosecutors will argue why he should remain in detention.

The hearing for Ahmed Abu Khattala is before Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson.

US Marshals patrol the area outside federal court in Washington where Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khattala, charged in the deadly attack at the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, is being held. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In court papers filed Tuesday night, the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington said Abu Khattala has continued to target Americans with deadly and destructive intentions.

The court papers described in general terms the case prosecutors plan to bring against Abu Khattala. They say after U.S personnel evacuated the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Khattala entered the compound and supervised the collection of material found at the scene.

Abu Khattala returned to a camp in Benghazi controlled by Ansar al-Shariah, where a large armed group began assembling to attack the mission's annex.