Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants have reached a plea agreement related to the September 11 attacks.

In exchange for a life sentence, the men will plead guilty to conspiracy charges, thereby avoiding a death penalty trial.

This development was announced by the Pentagon on July 31, 2024, and further updates on the situation are anticipated.

The defendants have been in U.S. custody since 2003, and their case has faced significant delays due to protracted pre-trial proceedings.

The legal proceedings have been ongoing for over 16 years, largely due to disputes over evidence obtained through torture during CIA detention.

Mohammed and co-defendant Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi were captured together in Pakistan in March 2003 and reportedly faced severe torture, including extensive waterboarding.

Mohammed is believed to have coordinated the planning, financing, and communication of the attacks, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people.

The September 11 attacks involved militants hijacking four commercial airliners to target the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Many families of the 9/11 victims have expressed a desire for the defendants to formally admit their guilt.

The plea deal may prevent a lengthy trial that could last 12 to 18 months and risks the integrity of their statements and confessions.

All three defendants have been held for several years at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.