American Diplomats Attacked

Click the items below to explore an interactive timeline of the attacks against the American embassy in Cairo, Egypt and the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. This is a developing story. Continue checking here for updates.

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Preface

Innocence of Muslims film trailer debuts on YouTube

California

7/2: A man claiming to be Sam Bacile, an Israeli-American real-estate developer in California, posts an English-language trailer to Youtube for Innocence of Muslims. The movie appears to have been screened only once, in a near empty theater in Hollywood sometime thereafter.

The anti-Islam trailer is translated into Arabic

California

9/2: An Egyptian Arabic-language version of the trailer is posted to the same YouTube channel, according to the New York Times. The video has since been removed.

Anti-Islam Coptic blogger writes about film

Washington, D.C.

9/5: Morris Sadek, an anti-Islam Coptic activist, blogs about anti-Islam provocateur Terry Jones' plan to host an "International Judge Mohammed Day" on Sept. 11. The post includes a link to the film's trailer.

Arabic newspaper reports on film

Cairo

9/9: An Arabic-language newspaper begins reporting about the film's existence, attributing it to "vengeful Copts, accompanied by the extreme priest Terry Jones." (Translation via NYT). Sheikh Khaled Abdalla, meanwhile, broadcasts a clip of the film on Egyptian television.

Tuesday, Sept. 11

U.S. Embassy in Cairo criticizes film in tweet

Cairo

6:11 a.m.: The U.S. Embassy in Cairo issues a statement via Twitter condemning "continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims," an apparent response to growing attention in Egypt to the anti-Islam film. (Some of the embassy's tweet have since been deleted.)

Protestors scale walls of U.S. embassy in Cairo

Cairo

1:42 p.m.: The Associated Press reports that Egyptian Islamist protesters, angry about the film, have scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy and replaced the American flag with an Islamic one.

Protesters attack U.S. consulate in Libya

Benghazi, Libya

5:39 p.m.: Reuters reports that armed protesters are staging an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Terry Jones hosts mock trial of prophet Mohammad

Gainesville, Fla.

6 p.m.: Terry Jones hosts his "International Judge Muhammad Day," a publicity stunt involving a mock trial of the prophet Mohammed and a screening of the "Muslims" trailer.

U.S. Embassy in Cairo stands by original statement

Cairo

6:30 p.m.: The U.S. Embassy in Cairo tweets that its earlier statement concerning the anti-Muslim film "still stands," but notes that it was made before the protests outside its walls began.

Death of U.S. official at Benghazi consulate reported

Benghazi, Egypt

7:15 p.m.: Reuters reports that at least one U.S. official at the Benghazi consulate has been killed.

Romney embargoes statement

Boston

10:09 p.m.: The Romney campaign sends out a statement to reporters that is "embargoed until midnight tonight," i.e., until after the 9/11 anniversary.

Obama administration distances itself from embassy tweet

Washington, D.C.

10:10 p.m.: Politico publishes what appears to be the first comment from an Obama administration distancing the White House from the remarks made by the Cairo embassy about the film. "The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government," an unnamed official tells the Beltway publication.

Romney criticizes Obama administration's response

Boston

10:24 p.m.: The Romney campaign lifts the embargo, and reporters start mentioning the statement, which reads in part: "It's disgraceful that the Obama Administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks."

Wednesday, Sept. 12

RNC chairman criticizes Obama administration's response

Washington D.C.

12:01 a.m.: Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweets: "Obama sympathizes with attackers in Egypt. Sad and pathetic."

Death of three more U.S. officials reported

Benghazi, Egypt

6:11 a.m.: The AP reports that Chris Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya, and three of his staff members were killed.

Obama: "justice will be done"

Washington, D.C.

10:35 a.m.: President Obama speaks from the White House Rose Garden and promises that "make no mistake, justice will be done."

Romney says Obama administration is apologetic

Jacksonville, Fla.

10:15 a.m.: Mitt Romney speaks from his campaign office in Jacksonville, where he repeats his criticism of the original statement from the embassy in Cairo, likening it to an "apology" from the Obama administration. "The first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation."

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=fffe824353252c4f4f8072adc0ce4a4e

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