27.08.2026 12:10
The date has been set for the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of being the mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, and three other defendants. US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama announced that the defendants will begin trial in a military court on June 5, 2028. Thus, in the case related to the attacks that killed approximately 3,000 people, a critical process will begin about 27 years after the attacks.
An important decision was made in the long-running legal process regarding the attacks that shook the US on September 11, 2001. It was decided that the military court trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of being the planner of the attacks, and 3 other defendants would begin on June 5, 2028.
US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama stated that prosecutors requested the trial begin in 2027, but that date was "too early."
4 DEFENDANTS WILL FACE THE JUDGE IN 2028
According to the decision, in addition to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin Attash, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali will be tried in the military court.
June 5, 2028 was set as the start date of the trial. Thus, a new stage will be reached in the trial of the defendants approximately 27 years after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
AGREEMENT TO LIFT THE DEATH PENALTY HAD BEEN REACHED
Previously, a notable agreement had been made with three of the defendants in the case. In July 2024, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi reached an agreement with military prosecutors.
Under the agreement, the defendants would accept the charges against them, including the killing of 2,976 people, and in return, the death penalty would be waived.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was expected to serve a life sentence in Guantanamo.
LLOYD AUSTIN CANCELED THE AGREEMENT
The agreement drew reactions from some relatives of those who died in the September 11 attacks. A few days later, then-US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin canceled the agreement.
While the defendants' lawyers objected to the decision, the matter was later taken to the federal court. The federal appeals court in Washington DC ruled last July that Austin acted within his authority in canceling the agreement.
Following this development, the process regarding the defendants' trial in the military court continued.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused of organizing the plan used in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon by hijacked passenger planes on September 11, 2001.