The U.S. dispatched a group of Marines to Tripoli Wednesday, a day after the American Consulate attack in Benghazi killed the U.S. ambassador, three other Americans and several Libyan security guards, the Associated Press reported. 

The Obama administration is investigating whether the assault was planned to mark the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strike and not a spontaneous mob enraged by an anti-Islam YouTube video.

The attack was “a planned, coordinated, well-executed military style event,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers told the AP. 

White House press secretary Jay Carney said it was too early to determine whether the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens was planned. 

From the AP: 

In a show of force, the Pentagon moved two warships to the Libyan coast. Officials said one destroyer, the USS Laboon, moved to a position off the coast Wednesday, and the destroyer USS McFaul was en route and should be stationed off the coast within days, increasing the number of Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean from four to five.

Officials said the ships, which carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, do not have a specific mission. But they give commanders flexibility to respond to any mission ordered by the president.

Fifty Marines were sent to Libya to reinforce security at U.S. diplomatic facilities. According to the AP, President Obama ordered increased security at U.S. diplomatic posts abroad.

Obama said the U.S. would “work with the Libyan government to bring to justice” those who killed the Stevens. 

“We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, but there is absolutely no justification for this type of senseless violence. None.”

 

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage on Libya here.

Reach Executive Producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.