Three men accused of planning the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have agreed to a pre-trial deal, according to the US Defence Department. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi, who have been held at Guantanamo Bay without trial, will plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. The plea deal details have not been released, but it is reported that the men will admit to all charges, including the murder of 2,976 people.
The 9/11 attacks were the deadliest on US soil since Pearl Harbour, leading to the “War on Terror” and reshaping both the Middle East and American society. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, considered the mastermind behind the attacks, was captured in 2003 and subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques” before their banning in 2007.
Many families of the victims want the men to admit guilt, including Terry Strada, the national chairperson of 9/11 Families United. While the Senate Minority Leader has criticized the Biden administration for the deal, the White House National Security Council has stated that they were informed but did not participate in negotiations.
This agreement comes after over 16 years of prosecution efforts and is seen as a significant step in the long-awaited pursuit of justice for the 9/11 attacks. The formal pleas are expected soon, marking a milestone in the legal proceedings surrounding the tragic events of that day.
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