Trial for 9/11 Mastermind Scheduled for June 2028

A U.S. Air Force judge has scheduled the trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks, along with three co-defendants, to begin on June 5, 2028. This decision was made by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama and represents a significant step in a lengthy legal process that has lasted nearly two decades for the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The trial will commence with the selection of a jury composed entirely of service members, followed by opening statements 30 days after the jury is seated. The prosecution will present its evidence, after which the defense will have the opportunity to file motions for acquittal. The judge declined a proposal to start the trial in January 2027, citing insufficient time for pretrial motions.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is known for allegedly orchestrating the attacks that resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities. The trial's scheduling follows a recent appellate court decision that blocked a plea deal which would have allowed him and two co-defendants to avoid the death penalty.