A U.S. military judge has determined that the trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will commence on June 5, 2028. Mohammed is accused of being the chief planner of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The trial date is set nearly 27 years after four commercial aircraft were hijacked. These planes were used in attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, with a fourth plane crash-landing in Pennsylvania. The attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths.
Air Force Lt. Col. Michael A. Schrama decided against the prosecutors’ request for a January 11, 2027 start. He stated that substantial pretrial litigation needs resolution. Key decisions include whether certain FBI-documented statements should be suppressed.
Along with Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi will also be tried. These men are implicated in the plot and are held at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
Prosecutors assert that Mohammed orchestrated and managed the operation involving hijacked passenger planes crashing into significant U.S. landmarks. He was apprehended in Pakistan in March 2003 and transferred to Guantánamo Bay in 2006.
The court’s schedule follows a failed plea agreement, which might have allowed Mohammed to plead guilty and escape the death penalty. Instead, Mohammed faces the possibility of life imprisonment without parole.
The judge’s schedule outlines several milestones leading to jury selection by June 5, 2028. However, the timeline depends on adhering to interim deadlines, which might result in further delays.
This story is evolving. Further updates will be provided.
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