**Trial for 9/11 Accused, Including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Set for June 2028**
A U.S. military judge has scheduled the trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, along with three co-defendants, for June 5, 2028. This decision comes more than two decades after their initial arrests and follows a prolonged legal process marked by significant delays and disputes over evidence.
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama issued the scheduling order on August 27, 2026. The trial will be conducted at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the defendants have been held since their capture. The proceedings are expected to involve a jury composed of military service members, with opening statements anticipated to follow 30 days after jury selection.
The trial's timeline was influenced by a series of legal complications, including a recent ruling from a U.S. appeals court that blocked plea deals which would have allowed Mohammed and two of his co-defendants to avoid the death penalty. The plea agreement was struck in 2024 but was revoked shortly thereafter by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a decision that was upheld by the appeals court last month.
The defendants, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, have faced numerous challenges in their legal proceedings, primarily due to the controversial methods used to obtain evidence during their detention in CIA prisons, where they were reportedly subjected to torture. These issues have contributed to the extensive delays in bringing the case to trial.
In his ruling, Lieutenant Colonel Schrama emphasized the need for a realistic timeline that accommodates the resolution of pretrial evidentiary and compliance motions, rejecting a prosecution request to expedite the trial to early 2027. He noted that adequate time is essential to address the complexities surrounding the case.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was captured in Pakistan in March 2003, is considered a key figure within al-Qaeda and was closely associated with Osama bin Laden. After his capture, he spent three years in secret CIA detention before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.
As the trial date approaches, it is expected to draw significant attention, given the high-profile nature of the defendants and the historical context of the September 11 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and led to widespread changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. The upcoming trial will mark a pivotal moment in the long-standing quest for justice related to one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in history.