US military judge sets June 5, 2028 trial date for 9/11 defendants at Guantanamo
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A US military judge has scheduled the trial of four men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 attacks to begin on June 5, 2028, at Guantanamo Bay. The date, set by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shrama, is preliminary and depends on the parties meeting deadlines. Prosecutors had sought a January 11, 2027 start, but the judge called that timeline unrealistic.
Key Facts
- The trial of four men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 attacks is scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028, at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shrama set the date in a ruling published on the US Military Commissions website.
- Prosecutors had requested a January 11, 2027 start date, but Shrama rejected that motion as unrealistic.
- The defendants include alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, also known as Ammar al-Baluchi.
- The case of a fifth defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, has been severed after a forensic examination found him incompetent to stand trial.
Trial Date and Ruling
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shrama set June 5, 2028, as the start date for the trial of four men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 attacks. The ruling was published on the US Military Commissions website. Shrama noted the date is preliminary and depends on the parties meeting deadlines. Prosecutors had pushed for a January 11, 2027 start, but the judge rejected that motion as unrealistic. The judge said the court needs additional time to resolve protracted pretrial disputes over the admissibility of evidence and confessions obtained by FBI and CIA personnel.
Defendants and Pretrial Disputes
The defendants are alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, also known as Ammar al-Baluchi. Their defense has long sought to exclude key confessions, arguing they were obtained under torture in secret CIA prisons. From 2002 to 2006, the men and another defendant were held in secret CIA prisons before being transferred to Guantanamo. The case of a fifth defendant, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, has been severed after a forensic examination found him incompetent to stand trial. The proceedings were also delayed by collapsed plea deals: in 2024, the defendants agreed to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty, but the agreement was annulled.
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US military judge sets June 5, 2028 trial date for 9/11 defendants at Guantanamo
