Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, along with two other men, has agreed to plea deals in the military commissions process, according to a Pentagon announcement on Wednesday.
Key Details
- Defendants Involved:
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammad
- Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ’Attash
- Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi
- Plea Agreements:
- The terms of the plea deals have not been disclosed.
- The men are expected to plead guilty to some charges, potentially avoiding the death penalty.
- The pleas are scheduled to occur as early as next week at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- Prosecution Statement:
- Rear Admiral Aaron Rugh, the chief prosecutor, informed 9/11 victim family members that the defendants have agreed to plead guilty to all charges, including the murder of 2,976 individuals.
Background
- Previous Court Hearings:
- The men have been in custody since 2003.
- A previous military hearing sketch from January 21, 2009, shows Mohammad and his co-defendants attending a session at the Guantanamo Bay military commissions court.
- Legal Challenges:
- The prosecution has faced significant delays, largely due to legal disputes over evidence obtained during the defendants’ CIA detention and alleged torture.
- Impact of Attacks:
- The September 11 attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people when terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control.
The plea deals represent a significant development in the long-running legal proceedings related to the 9/11 attacks, which have been ongoing for over 16 years
