9/11 case jolted as judge rejects KSM confessions

A US military judge has rejected the confessional statements of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, ruling that the statements are inadmissible in court.

According to US media reports, the judge determined that Mohammed’s confessions to FBI officials were not made voluntarily. The statements were obtained after he was subjected to torture by the CIA, making them legally inadmissible, the judge ruled.

The decision could further delay the long-running 9/11 case, which has already faced years of legal proceedings and delays.

The trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other defendants is currently scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028.

Families of victims of the September 11 attacks have expressed concern over the latest development and the continued delays in the case.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been accused of planning the terrorist attacks carried out in the United States on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and led to a major US military and counterterrorism campaign around the world.

The latest ruling represents another significant development in the case, as prosecutors seek to pursue charges against Mohammed while defence lawyers continue to challenge the admissibility of evidence obtained during his years in US custody.