A union representing firefighters in New York City has expressed that its members are “disappointed and disgusted” with the plea negotiations that have allowed alleged 9/11 architect Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and two other terrorists to avoid the death penalty.
On Wednesday, the Department of Defense revealed that it has reached pretrial agreements with Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, all of whom are currently awaiting trial at Guantánamo Bay.
“In exchange for eliminating the death penalty as a potential sentence, these three defendants have consented to plead guilty to all charges, which includes the murders of the 2,976 individuals cited in the charge sheet,” wrote Rear Adm. Aaron Rugh, the chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions, in a letter sent to the families of 9/11 victims, as reported by the New York Post.
“On behalf of the firefighters of New York City, especially those who survived the September 11th attacks and continue to suffer from the health issues caused that day, we are profoundly disappointed and disgusted that these three terrorists have been granted a plea deal that allows them to evade the ultimate form of justice while each month sees additional heroes from the FDNY succumbing to World Trade Center-related illnesses,” stated FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro on Thursday.
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According to reports, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind 9/11, has been granted a plea deal that spares him from the death penalty. (AP)
The Office of Military Commissions did not promptly reply to a query from Fox News Digital this morning.
The president of the organization 9/11 Justice, which identifies itself as “a grassroots group of families affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,” also voiced concerns on Thursday, stating, “We are extremely troubled by these plea agreements.”
“While we recognize the decision to avoid the death penalty, our main concern is ensuring access to these individuals for information,” said 9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson. “These plea deals should not create a closed-door system that conceals vital information from the families of the victims, preventing them from uncovering the full truth.”
The accused are alleged to have provided training, financial assistance, and other forms of support to the 19 terrorists who hijacked commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001.
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Smoke billows from the Twin Towers after they were struck by two hijacked planes during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York City. (Robert Giroux/Getty Images)
The 9/11 attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, marking the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.
These three individuals, along with Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Ramzi Bin al Shibh, were originally charged together and arraigned on June 5, 2008, and subsequently charged together again and arraigned a second time on May 5, 2012, regarding their alleged roles in the attacks, according to the Department of Defense.
On September 11, 2023, families of 9/11 victims gather to honor their loved ones on the 22nd anniversary of the attacks at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Their sentencing is scheduled for August 5 at Guantánamo Bay.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
