US Justice Dept. awards more than $800m to victims of attacks
Iran hostages, victims of embassy bombings and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole receive compensation from special fund
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US Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a press conference at the US Justice Department on March 2, 2017, in Washington DC. (AFP/ Nicholas Kamm)
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has paid more than $800 million from a special compensation fund to hostages held by Iran and victims of embassy bombings and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
The money was paid out of the US Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which was established in 2015.
The department said Thursday that the money has been provided to thousands of victims, their family members and survivors. More payments are expected in the coming weeks, with the total expected to exceed $1 billion.
The fund is being administered by Kenneth Feinberg, who has performed a similar role for funds set up after the Sept. 11 attacks, the BP oil spill and other disasters.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
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