Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, and his two co-defendants, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, are expected to plead guilty to conspiracy charges at a military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as early as next week. According to US officials, the three men have agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life imprisonment, avoiding a potential death sentence.
The defendants, who have been in US custody since 2003, are accused of planning and executing the deadliest terrorist attack in US history, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. The attack involved hijacking planes and crashing them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
A letter sent to the families of the victims, signed by Rear Adm. Aaron C. Rugh, chief prosecutor for military commissions, and his team, revealed the plea agreement. “In exchange for removing the death penalty, the three accused have agreed to plead guilty to all charges, including the murder of 2,976 people,” the letter stated.
The development comes after years of delays in the prosecution due to concerns about the admissibility of evidence obtained through torture. Many families of the victims have expressed frustration and disappointment, with some seeking a trial and punishment.
Terry Strada, national chairwoman of 9/11 Families United, expressed mixed emotions about the plea agreement. “While some families may find closure in the defendants’ admission of guilt, I personally wanted to see a trial and justice served. The defendants’ cowardice in planning the attack is matched only by their cowardice in avoiding a trial today.” She also noted that dozens of relatives of those killed have died while awaiting resolution of the case.
The sentencing is expected to take place next year, bringing some closure to the families of the victims. It is likely that the defendants will appear in person to plead guilty at Guantanamo Bay next week, but they will not be sentenced until later next year, according to NBC News.
Mohammed, the suspected main conspirator of the 9/11 attacks, presented the idea of such an attack to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, according to the US 9/11 Commission. The plea agreement has sparked mixed reactions from the families of the victims, with some seeking justice and others feeling that the defendants are escaping punishment.
