American teacher killed in Benghazi

Gunmen shot and killed an American teacher in Benghazi, Libya, on Thursday while he was out on a morning jog.

{mosads}The Associated Press reports the Texas chemistry teacher was shot while jogging near the U.S. Consulate, where last year’s terrorist attack occurred. He had taught chemistry at the city’s International School.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed that the American was killed in Benghazi, while deferring any further questions to Libyan authorities.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said that President Obama was briefed on the killing.

“The president was briefed on it during his morning briefing, and all I can say right now is I can confirm that a U.S. citizen was shot and killed in Benghazi, Libya,” Carney said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the city has seen an outpouring of violence between Islamic militants and government forces.

There were three Libyan soldiers killed in Benghazi on Thursday as well, according to the AP, citing officials at the city’s Al-Galaa hospital.

The teacher was killed 15 months after the attack on the consulate, where U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others died.

The armed militant groups have grown since former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was ousted from power and killed in 2011.

Ansar al-Sharia, one of the leading militant groups, is accused of launching the attack that killed Stevens and the three Americans on Sept. 11, 2012.

Ansar al-Sharia clashed with Libyan government forces in Benghazi last month, according to the AP. 

— This story was updated at 2:45 p.m.