The man accused of being the principal architect of al-Qaeda’s Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has agreed to plead guilty, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accomplices involved in the attack are anticipated to enter their pleas at the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as early as next week.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) is a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda and is considered the principal architect of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and has been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp since then.
Read: U.S. Designates Key ISIS Financiers In Africa To Disrupt Terrorist Funding, Imposes Sanctions
Key Points:
- Role in 9/11: KSM confessed to being the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, claiming responsibility for planning and organizing the operation from start to finish.
- Other Terrorist Activities: He has also been linked to numerous other terrorist plots, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Bojinka plot (a foiled plan to blow up multiple airliners), and the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
- Controversial Interrogation: KSM was subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques, widely condemned as torture, during his detention by the CIA. This has raised questions about the legality and morality of his treatment, as well as the admissibility of his confessions in court.
- Legal Proceedings: He is currently facing charges in a military commission at Guantanamo Bay, but the trial has been delayed for years due to various legal and procedural issues.
- Controversial Figure: KSM remains a deeply controversial figure, with some viewing him as a terrorist who deserves the harshest punishment, while others raise concerns about his treatment and the fairness of his trial.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.