Organizer of the Sep 11th terrorist attacks brought before military tribunal

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the organizer of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, and four accomplices were brought before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay. The Associated Press reported this on May 5th.

At this first session Mohammed refused to answer Judge James Pohl’s questions. According to his lawyers, the accused was protesting against his “unjust” trial. Pohl warned Mohammed about inadmissibility of such behavior, and the trial continued without him.

Another defendant, Walid bin Attash, for some unknown reason was placed in a special chair used for aggressive inmates. After bin Attash promised to “behave appropriately”, he was untied.

Apart from Mohammed and bin Attash, also accused in the 9/11 case are Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi. They are accused of the murder of 2,976 persons, conspiracy, terrorism, hijacking, and other crimes.

According to intelligence agencies, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was close to the former leader of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden. In 2003, Mohammed was arrested in Pakistan and was soon handed over to U.S. authorities.

Since 2006, Mohammed, who has proclaimed himself the chief organizer of the 9/11 attacks, has been held at the military base at Guantanamo Bay. According to CIA data reported by BBC News, during his stint at the base the terrorist was subjected to water torture over 180 times. In 2009, the administration of President Barack Obama decided to try Mohammed in civil court, but that decision led to numerous protests, and was canceled.

In 2011, it was decided to try the Guantanamo detainees before a military tribunal. The current trial is held under the new rules, which, among other things, prohibit the use of evidence obtained through torture.

If found guilty, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his accomplices could face the death penalty. The defense, however, believes that the trial may take several years.

In 'Lenta.ru'

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