New Charges for Accused 9/11 Mastermind
Government re-files charges against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others.
May 31, 2011 — -- The U.S. government re-filed charges today against alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspected conspirators, paving the way once again for the group to be tried in a military tribunal.
The group, which in addition to Mohammed includes Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, will face eight charges ranging from conspiracy and murder in violation of the law of war to terrorism.
"The charges allege that the five accused were responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks on New York, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pa. that occurred on September 11, 2001," the Department of Defense said in a statement announcing the charges. "Those attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people."
Mohammed was originally scheduled to be tried by military tribunal after his arrest in 2003, but the charges against him and his alleged co-conspirators were dropped when the Obama administration attempted to move the proceedings to the civilian federal court system. But after an outcry from New York city officials, where the trial would've taken place, and a protest in Congress, the government reversed its position in April.
READ: In Reversal, Obama Orders Guantanamo Military Trial for 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Mohammed confessed to his role in the most horrific terror attack in U.S. history in 2008.
President Obama, both as candidate and as president, strongly objected to the military tribunals set up by the Bush administration. In 2006, he said their structure was "poorly thought out" and immediately upon taking office, he signed an executive order to close the detainee center at Guantanamo Bay. He later said that the tribunals "failed to establish a legitimate legal framework and undermined our capability to ensure swift and certain justice."
When the government announced Mohammed and the others would be tried in military courts, rather than civilian courts, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the Obama administration still intends to eventually close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
ABC News' Jason Ryan and Huma Khan contributed to this report.
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