Three men accused of masterminding the September 11, 2001, attacks have reached a pre-trial agreement, according to the Department of Defense. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi, who have been detained at Guantanamo Bay for years without a trial, have agreed to plead guilty to all charges, including the murder of the 2,976 victims listed in the indictment. In return, the prosecution has agreed not to pursue the death penalty.
The 9/11 attacks, which targeted New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, triggered the “War on Terror” and led to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice, an organization representing survivors and victims’ families, expressed deep concern about the plea deals. He criticized the process for its lack of transparency and called for further investigation into Saudi Arabia’s possible involvement in the attacks.
Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom in the attacks and is the national chair of 9/11 Families United, expressed dismay at the plea deal. She described it as a “gut-punch,” viewing the agreement as a win for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other detainees.
The September 11, 2001, attacks remain the deadliest assault on US soil since the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which resulted in 2,400 deaths. The plea deal involving the accused was initially communicated to the victims’ families through a letter from prosecutors, as reported by News.
The deal may lead to a court appearance as soon as next week, with sentencing to follow before a panel of military officers. Victim-impact statements might be allowed during the sentencing hearing, slated for the summer of 2025. Prosecutors noted that the deal would provoke strong emotions and mixed reactions among the thousands affected.
The US Department of Defense has not yet released the specific terms of the pre-trial agreements. The accused face numerous charges, including attacks on civilians, war crimes, hijacking, and terrorism. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, considered the mastermind behind the attacks, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi were captured in Pakistan in March 2003.
Mohammed, who had been waterboarded 183 times before this practice was banned, allegedly presented his hijacking plan to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and helped train the hijackers.
The trial has faced delays partly due to concerns that harsh interrogation techniques might have compromised the evidence. Analysts have called the plea deal the “least bad option” under the circumstances.
The Biden administration previously rejected a plea deal for five detainees, including Mohammed, due to their demands for better conditions. Meanwhile, Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, criticized the deal, calling it an unacceptable concession that undermines justice.
