Alleged 9/11 mastermind to face trial in 2028

NEW YORK - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, is scheduled to stand trial in June 2028, more than 25 years after his arrest in Pakistan.

Mohammed, now 61, has been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2006. U.S. prosecutors had sought to begin the military trial in January 2027, but the judge ruled that more time is needed to resolve legal issues, including which evidence may be admitted.

One major issue concerns a plea agreement Mohammed reached with the U.S. Department of Defense. Under the deal, he would plead guilty in exchange for a trial in which prosecutors could not seek the death penalty. The agreement drew strong criticism from relatives of 9/11 victims and was later rejected by a federal appeals court.

Mohammed is accused of planning and directing the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. Nearly 3,000 people were killed after four planes were hijacked. Two struck the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the hijackers.

Three other defendants — Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa al-Hawsawi — are also expected to stand trial in 2028. They are among the last remaining detainees at Guantánamo Bay.