Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Expected to Stand Trial in 2028

A military judge set a June 5, 2028 trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three alleged co-conspirators in the September 11 attacks. Lt. Col. Michael Schrama issued the ruling Wednesday.

• Nearly 3,000 people died in the 2001 attacks Mohammed is accused of masterminding.
• All four defendants have been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2003.
• Prosecutors had requested a January 2027 trial start; the judge rejected that date.

Why it matters: The case has been delayed for more than two decades, making it one of the longest-running pretrial military commission proceedings. A firm date resolves years of scheduling uncertainty for victims' families and the legal system.

How 18 sources split on this story

What’s next: The trial is set to begin at the Cuba military base on June 5, 2028.

• What pretrial motions or legal challenges could still delay or alter the 2028 start date?
• Will the ruling withstand any appeals before the trial begins?