US to try five 9/11 suspects, Guantanamo debate reignited
- Source: Xinhua
- [08:57 November 14 2009]
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This photo obtained in March 2003 shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged organizer of the September 11, 2001, attacks, shortly after his capture. Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, and four co-accused will be tried in a civilian court in New York just blocks from where Al-Qaeda hijackers crashed two airliners into the World Trade Center, the government announced Friday. (Xinhua photo)
The Obama administration announced a decision on Friday to have five conspirators of the 9/11 terror attacks tried in New York, reigniting a debate on the planned closure of the Guantanamo prison.
DEATH PENALTY TO BE SOUGHT
US Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters at a Washington news conference that the self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four co-conspirators will be transferred from the US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York for trials.
The court is just blocks away from the former World Trade Center twin towers that were destroyed by the strike of two hijacked commercial flights on Sept. 11, 2001.
Saying the five suspects will "finally face justice," Holder made it clear that the government will seek death penalty against them.
"I fully expect to direct prosecutors to seek the death penalty against each of the alleged 9/11 conspirators," he said.
Holder said he is confident the trials will result in conviction.
"I would not have authorized prosecution if I was not confident our outcome would be a successful one," he told reporters.
Holder added that the five suspects will only be brought to New York after all legal obligations have been fulfilled, including a required 45-day notice and report to Congress.
He said he has met with Governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to discuss security and other issues.
Holder also said five other Guantanamo detainees will go on trials in the military commissions at the prison. Among them are Abd al-Rahim al Nashiri, accused of organizing the 2000 attack on the US warship Cole in Yemen, and Omar Khadr, a Canadian charged with the 2002 murder of a US military officer in Afghanistan.
