Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Suspected 9/11 Mastermind: "I Wish...to be a Martyr"
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 5, 2008
Modified Jun 5, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 5, 2008
Modified Jun 5, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who federal authorities accuse of proposing and overseeing the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., appeared in a military courtroom today at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Mohammed said he would represent himself and, when told he could face the death penalty if convicted, "Yes, this is what I wish, to be a martyr for a long time. I will, God willing, have this, by you."
Today was Mohammed's formal arraignment (others accused in conspiring the attacks were also formally charged). He was captured in 2003, and the Pentagon says his involvement with the attacks includes "proposing the operational concept to Osama bin Laden as early as 1996, obtaining approval and funding from bin Laden for the attacks, overseeing the entire operation, and training the hijackers in all aspects of the operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The former third-in-command at Al Qaeda has been in U.S. custody since his capture and he did undergo waterboarding, which his defense said could have impaired his cognitive abilities. In the courtroom, the AP reported that Mohammed "sang verses from the Quran" before being asked to stop by the judge. The Pentagon has claimed Mohammed has confessed to his involvement, even feeling sorry for killing so many people.
For more, the Lede is liveblogging the hearing and has some background about circumstances around the case.
Sketch of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Waleed bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, and Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, known as Ammar al-Baluchi, at Camp Justice in Guatanamo Bay drawn by Janet Hamlin, photographed by Brennan Linsley/AP
Tagged
9/11
gitmo
guantanamo bay
khalid sheikh mohammed
pentagon
september 11
September 11 attacks
tribunal
waterboarding
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
Some regulars at the East Village park want to preserve its not-so-fancy offerings.
By
Willow Higgins
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. ET
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .