**Title: Trial for Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Scheduled for June 2028**
**By Greta Ruffino**
**Published on 27/08/2026**
A US military judge has officially set a trial date of June 5, 2028, for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, attacks, along with three co-defendants. This announcement marks a significant milestone in a legal process that has been ongoing for over two decades.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was captured in Pakistan in March 2003, is considered one of the top lieutenants of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He is accused of orchestrating the hijacking of four passenger planes, which were used in the attacks that resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities. The attacks targeted the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
The trial date set for 2028 is 18 months later than the timeline proposed by prosecutors, allowing additional time for the resolution of pretrial disputes, particularly regarding the admissibility of evidence. The US government has faced numerous challenges in bringing this case to trial, including previous delays, with a trial initially scheduled for 2021 being canceled.
Mohammed will be tried alongside three alleged accomplices: Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi. These individuals are accused of various roles in facilitating the attacks. A notable legal complication arose last year when a federal appeals court rejected a plea deal that would have allowed Mohammed to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences without the possibility of parole. This deal also required him and two co-defendants to answer questions from the families of the victims. The Biden administration ultimately declined to proceed with the agreement after two years of negotiations.
One of the critical legal issues surrounding the case involves the defendants' treatment during their detention, as they were reportedly subjected to torture while in CIA custody. This factor raises significant concerns regarding the fairness of the trial, which has been a focal point in the ongoing legal discussions.
The trial will take place at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a military facility that has been used to detain individuals captured during the "War on Terror" following the September 11 attacks. The location was chosen to prevent defendants from claiming rights under US law, a controversial aspect of the legal proceedings. At its peak, Guantanamo held approximately 800 prisoners, but the number has significantly decreased over the years, with only a small fraction remaining.
As the legal process continues, the 2028 trial date remains tentative, as further delays could occur if pretrial deadlines are not met. The case against Mohammed and his co-defendants represents a significant chapter in the ongoing efforts to seek justice for the victims of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in US history.