White House Told of Group Claiming Responsibility of Benghazi Attack Within Hours

State department emails reveal knowledge of Islamist group bragging about attack on social media

WASHINGTON—Two hours after the U.S. Consulate came under attack in Benghazi, Libya, the White House was told that a militant group was claiming responsibility for the violence that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

A State Department email sent to intelligence officials and the White House situation room said the Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia claimed responsibility on Facebook and Twitter, and also called for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.