Full Breakdown
Trial Date Set for Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
8/28/2026, 1:51:02 AM
Core Event: June 5 2028 Trial Scheduling
A U.S. Air Force military judge, Lt. Col. Michael A. Schrama, issued an order on August 26 that the military commission at Guantánamo Bay will commence the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants on June 5 2028.
Background & Context
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a Pakistani national captured in March 2003, has been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2006. He was charged in 2008 with war crimes and murder related to the September 11 2001 attacks, which killed 2,977 people. A trial slated for 2021 was cancelled; a 2024 plea agreement that would have avoided the death penalty was withdrawn after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rescinded his signature. A 2025 federal appeals court rejected the plea, restoring the possibility of capital punishment.
Key Figures & Groups
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – alleged architect of the 9/11 plot.
- Walid bin Attash – co-defendant, alleged facilitator.
- Ali Abdul Aziz Ali – co-defendant, alleged financial intermediary.
- Mustafa al-Hawsawi – co-defendant, alleged organizer.
- Lt. Col. Michael A. Schrama – military judge.
- Lloyd Austin – former Defense Secretary who revoked the plea deal.
Timeline
- March 1 2003 – Photo taken of Mohammed shortly after capture.
- 2006 – Transfer to Guantánamo Bay.
- 2008 – Formal charging.
- 2021 – Planned trial cancelled.
- 2024 – Plea deal reached, later withdrawn.
- 2025 – Appeals court throws out the plea.
- August 26 2026 – Schrama issues the scheduling order setting the June 5 2028 trial start.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
The Department of Defense spokesperson confirmed the date and said a panel of service-member jurors will be selected before opening statements. Defense officials argue the prolonged pre-trial period reflects concerns over evidence obtained under torture, as noted in the 2014 Senate report.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the death toll: some cite 2,977 victims, others “nearly 3,000.” The status of evidence obtained under torture remains unsettled; the court’s rulings on admissibility will be pivotal.
What’s Next
The scheduling order outlines a procedural roadmap: jury selection begins on June 5 2028, followed by opening statements 30 days later, prosecution evidence presentation, a 60-day defense case, and sentencing. Both sides must file motions on evidentiary issues, including the potential suppression of statements recorded in FBI memoranda. Missed deadlines could delay the trial further.
