Accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed ordered to stand trial at Guantanamo in 2028

A US Air Force judge has ordered Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and three co-defendants to stand trial before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, starting June 5, 2028. This decision, issued by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama, marks a significant development in a prosecution that has faced two decades of legal delays. The order outlines a trial process where a jury of service members will hear the case, with opening statements commencing 30 days after the panel is seated. Schrama rejected an earlier trial date proposal, citing insufficient time for "resolution of pretrial evidentiary and compliance motions." This scheduling follows a recent US appeals court reversal that prevented Mohammed and two co-defendants from pleading guilty under agreements that would have avoided the death penalty.