Published August 27th, 2026 - 08:47 GMT
ALBAWABA -Alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks is set to stand trial in June of 2028 – 25 years after the attacks.Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, self-proclaimed "mastermind" of the 9/11 attacks, has been held in the U.S. Guantanamo Bay detention center since 2006 following his capture three years earlier; he is now set to stand trial on Monday, 5 June 2028, according to U.S. Lt. Col. Michael Schrama.The court date comes after a controversial turn of events in 2024, where Khalid, along with two other defendants, were offered a plea agreement by military prosecutors.The deal stated they had to plead guilty to 9/11 including the 3,000 people killed in the attack, in return, the court promised it would cancel the death penalty with the defendants serving a life sentence at Guantanamo, instead.This decision proved to be highly controversial amongst the American public, especially those whose family members were victims of the terrorist attack.The criticism was severe enough for then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to revoke the deal, saying:"I have determined that, in light of the significance of the decision to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused in the above-referenced case, responsibility for such a decision should rest with me as the superior convening authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009," Austin wrote.Taking the plea off the table, it is highly probable that the defendants will be facing the death penalty at their trial in 2028.The self-proclaimed "mastermind" of the 9/11 attacks will stand trial in June 2028, a military judge ruled Wednesday, nearly 25 years after the attacks.Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in 2003 and has been held at Guantanamo since 2006. pic.twitter.com/oVK3mqxaQx— ABC News (@ABC) August 27, 2026
