The Pentagon announced on February 12, 2008 that it was filing formal charges against six men, collectively referred to as the Guantanamo Six, for their involvement in the September 11th terrorist attacks. The suspects get their collective name from the Guantanamo Bay complex in Cuba where they are being held.
On January 19, 2009, two of the alleged conspirators, Ramzi Binalshibh and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed admitted their guilt during a tribunal at Guantanamo Bay. Judges considered reconvening the trial as a procedural matter, but decided to continue despite jury panel changes.Al Jazeera: 9/11 suspects face new hearing (January 19, 2009)
The Guantanamo Six and Their Alleged Roles
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Mastermind of the 9/11 attacks
- Mohammed al-Qahtani: The "20th hijacker"
- Ramzi Binalshibh: Coordinator of the attacks
- Waleed bin Attash: Planned to be a hijacker, instead involved in planning and coordination
- Ammar al-Baluchi: Financing and training attackers
- Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi: Key financier BBC: Profile - Key 9/11 Suspects (May 13, 2008)
References
Fast Facts
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Pentagon seeking death penalty
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General Thomas Hartmann will be The Pentagon's legal adviser
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Hartmann affirms that all six are guaranteed rights similar to those of United States military personnel under courts-martial.Financial Times: Death penalty sought for al-Qaeda suspects (February 12, 2008)
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Defendants have the right to appeal the court's verdict
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A court will decide whether evidence obtained by methods such as waterboarding would be admissible
