Twin Towers Attack: A 25-Year Criminal Trial

The decision was issued on August 26 by US military judge, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Shrama.

The trial will take place at the US military base in Guantanamo, Cuba. Prosecutors had proposed starting the trial in January 2027. However, the judge concluded that additional time was needed to review evidence and other procedural matters that must be resolved before the trial begins.

Trial to Begin June 5, 2028

According to Judge Shrama's ruling, the trial is scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028. This is approximately 18 months later than the January 2027 date requested by prosecutors.

Disagreements between the prosecution and defense persist during pretrial proceedings in the case, including disputes over which evidence may be used in court. As a result, the set date also depends on the timely completion of procedural stages.

What Is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Accused Of?

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused by the US government of being the principal organizer of the September 11 attacks.

He is accused of devising the plan to use passenger planes hijacked in 2001 as weapons, directing them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people.

Along with Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi will also stand trial. They are accused of assisting in the preparation and execution of the September 11 attacks.

Why Has the Case Dragged On for 23 Years?

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003. He was subsequently held in secret CIA prisons before being transferred to Guantanamo in 2006.

The trial proceedings have been delayed multiple times. This has been due to disputes over the interrogation of defendants by US intelligence agencies, the admissibility in court of statements obtained during that process, classified evidence, and other legal issues.

The trial was previously scheduled to take place in 2021, but it was canceled. In 2024, Mohammed and two other defendants agreed to a plea deal that would allow them to avoid the death penalty in exchange for pleading guilty. However, legal disputes over that deal later arose.

If the current schedule holds, the trial will begin on June 5, 2028 — nearly 27 years after the September 11 attacks.